Invasive Plant Rules in Lake County, IL (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Lake County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Lake County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.
Prohibited Species
Lake County's Unified Development Ordinance requires developers to remove buckthorn, purple loosestrife, honeysuckle, garlic mustard, reed canary grass and other invasive species from protected natural resource areas in unincorporated developments.
Lake County Invasive Species Removal Rule
Some RestrictionsLake County Code § 151.072(D)(1)
Maintenance of natural resource protection areas shall consist of the removal of litter, junk, and debris. Maintenance shall also include the removal of dead or diseased vegetation and such species as Lonicera tatarica (honeysuckle), Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn), Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass), Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife), Alliaria officinalis (garlic mustard), Rha...
Tree-of-Heaven Removal
Lake County's Unified Development Ordinance excludes tree of heaven from woodland and tree protection: developers don't have to preserve or replace Ailanthus altissima when calculating required natural resource protection on a site plan.
Tree of Heaven Rules in Lake County, IL
Light RestrictionsLake County Code § 151.071(I)(1)(f)
Noxious species. Undesirable or non-native tree species such as Acer negundo (box elder), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust), Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn), Rhamnus frangula (smooth buckthorn), Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven), Morus alba (white or common mulberry), Eleagnus angustifolia (Russian olive), Eleagnus umbellata (autumn olive), Populus alba (white poplar) and Ulmus pumil...
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