Lake County, IL Invasive Plant Rules: Tree-of-Heaven Removal (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Lake County Code § 151.071(I)(1)(f)
- Status
- Excluded from natural resource protection
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Lake County site development
- Also excluded
- Buckthorn, black locust, Russian olive, more
Summary
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.
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 pumila (siberian elm) shall not be considered a natural resource and shall not require protection under this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 26-0618, passed 6-9-2026 | State legislation current through ILCS Pamphlet 2025 #5).
Full Breakdown
Section 151.071(I)(1)(f) of the Lake County Unified Development Ordinance lists Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) among ten "noxious species" -- alongside box elder, black locust, common and smooth buckthorn, white mulberry, Russian olive, autumn olive, white poplar and Siberian elm -- that "shall not be considered a natural resource and shall not require protection under this section." That means when a developer in unincorporated Lake County calculates mandatory woodland, grove or significant-tree preservation ratios for a site development permit, stands of tree of heaven are excluded entirely; only native canopy counts toward the 50-70% protection thresholds the Planning, Building and Development Department enforces.
Violations & Fines
No fine for planting tree of heaven itself; the consequence is that a developer gets zero preservation credit for it, and clearing or removing it doesn't trigger tree-removal review or replacement requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tree of heaven banned in Lake County?
Does this rule apply inside Waukegan or Highland Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois invasive plant rules overview
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