Lake County, IL Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- Native plant materials required in designated open space
- Waiver
- PBD Director may approve an alternative plan
- Performance bond
- Up to 130% of estimated landscaping cost
- Maintenance bond
- At least 10% of performance assurance amount
- Management plan
- Minimum 5 years for natural resource areas
- Cure period
- 10 days' written notice before enforcement
- Detention basins
- Must use native vegetation to count as open space
Summary
Unincorporated Lake County requires every designated open space area created by a subdivision or development to be landscaped with native plant materials rather than turf grass or ornamental exotics, unless the Planning, Building and Development Director approves a different planting plan. The requirement attaches during site capacity/site plan review or subdivision review, and the county can require a landscaping bond to guarantee installation.
(3) Landscaping. Landscaping within open space areas shall be designed so that open space areas are aesthetically pleasing and functionally usable for the purpose specified. Native plant materials shall be used unless otherwise approved by the Planning, Building and Development Director. (4) Management plan. A management plan covering a minimum period of five years following release of the maintenance assurance shall be prepared and submitted for all natural resource protection areas. ... (6) Performance and maintenance assurances. (a) The Planning, Building and Development Director may require a performance assurance in order to ensure the proper installation of landscaping, recreational, or other improvements within open space areas and to ensure maintenance of natural resource protection areas. (b) The performance assurance may be required in an amount up to 130% of the design engineer's estimate of cost for maintenance of open space areas, required improvements, and landscaping, and shall be filed at the time of county approval of the subject development for a time period of one, two, or three years.
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
072(A) sets the county's open space design standards. Subsection (3), Landscaping, requires that open space areas be designed to be aesthetically pleasing and functionally usable, and that native plant materials be used unless the Planning, Building and Development Director approves otherwise. Subsection (4) adds a five-year management plan requirement for natural resource protection areas, running from the release of the maintenance assurance. Subsection (6) lets the Director require a performance assurance sized up to 130% of the design engineer's estimated cost of the landscaping and other open space improvements, filed for a one-, two-, or three-year term when the county approves the development.
A separate maintenance assurance equal to at least 10% of that performance-assurance amount can then be required, on the same one-to-three-year terms, to guarantee upkeep once the performance bond is released. 072(B)(7), a stormwater detention basin only counts toward the required open space acreage if it is designed as a wetland or wet-bottom basin with native vegetation along its wetland and waterbody buffer areas and side slopes. 191, whichever applies first, so the requirement is locked in before a single lot is built.
Violations & Fines
Installing the wrong plant palette, skipping native materials without Director sign-off, or letting required landscaping die violates Section 151.251(A) and (G). The Director must give written notice and ten days to correct a non-emergency violation under Section 151.257(A); each week it continues after that is a separate offense under Section 151.252. Remedies under Section 151.253 include withholding or revoking permits, a stop-work order, forfeiting the assurance bond, injunctive relief, and referral to the Administrative Adjudication process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every new subdivision have to use native plants in its open space?
Can the county require a bond for the landscaping?
Does a stormwater detention pond automatically count as open space?
What happens if the native landscaping isn't installed or dies?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
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