Special Events & Permits in Lake County, IN (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Lake County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Block Party Permits
Private residents closing a Lake County road for a block party that will serve beer or liquor need only the special-event permit form filed at least seven days ahead under § 114.11, not the full outdoor-event package. The county Highway Department supplies barricade gates, and the sponsor assumes liability for any harm alcohol service causes.
Lake County IN Block Party Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsLake County, IN Code § 114.11
This section applies only to block parties held and sponsored by private individuals when a street or road under the jurisdiction of Lake County is requested to be closed and where any beer and/or liquor will be dispensed or served. The following provisions shall apply: (A) A request on the form set forth in Appendix A to this chapter as a special event permit application shall be submitte...
Park Event Permits
Anyone staging a circus, carnival, festival, athletic contest, exhibition or outdoor beer garden on county-owned land in unincorporated Lake County, Indiana, or on private land, needs a permit from the Board of Commissioners before setting up any structure or machinery. Established businesses, private clubs and Lake County Fairgrounds events are exempt. Violators face a fine up to $2,500.
Lake County IN Park & Outdoor Event Permits
Significant RestrictionsLake County, IN Code § 114.02
(A) No person, firm, corporation, organization or association, foreign or domestic, shall erect or maintain any structure, bailing, stand, platform, or operate any machinery on any county owned real estate in Lake County, Indiana, for use in connection with the operation or maintenance of any circus, carnival, bazaar, festival, exhibition, athletic contest, outdoor beer gardens, or any other ...
Parade Permits
Anyone planning a circus, carnival, bazaar, festival, exhibition, athletic contest, outdoor beer garden, or similar public spectacle in unincorporated Lake County needs a permit first, whether the event sits on county-owned land or private property. The application goes to the county Clerk with a $100 filing fee and Board of Commissioners approval.
Special Event Permits in Lake County, Indiana
Significant RestrictionsLake County, IN Code § 114.02 (Ord. 1412A, passed 9-12-2017)
(A) No person, firm, corporation, organization or association, foreign or domestic, shall erect or maintain any structure, bailing, stand, platform, or operate any machinery on any county owned real estate in Lake County, Indiana, for use in connection with the operation or maintenance of any circus, carnival, bazaar, festival, exhibition, athletic contest, outdoor beer gardens, or any other pu...
Street Fair Rules
A food vendor selling at a fair, carnival, or festival in unincorporated Lake County operates under a "temporary food preparation establishment" permit, capped at two weeks per event, and pays the Lake County Health Department $5 for each day of operation, capped at $15 total no matter how long the event runs.
Festival Food Vendor Permits in Lake County
Some RestrictionsLake County, IN Code § 112.01, § 112.02(G) (Ord. 23, passed 7-24-1972; Ord. 23A, passed 1-9-2001)
TEMPORARY FOOD PREPARATION ESTABLISHMENT. Any food preparation establishment which operates for a temporary period of time, not to exceed two weeks, in connection with a fair, carnival, circus, public exhibition or similar, transitory gathering... (G) Temporary location. With every application for a permit for temporary food preparation establishment or grocer, the applicant shall pay a fee to ...
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