Lake County, IL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Lake County, IL, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Protected size threshold
- 24-inch trunk diameter or greater
- Minimum protection share
- 70% of significant trees kept
- Approval authority
- Planning, Building and Development Director
- Replacement standard
- Equal caliper, 3-inch minimum trees
- Geographic reach
- Unincorporated Lake County only
Summary
In unincorporated Lake County, developers need Planning, Building and Development Director sign-off before removing protected significant trees, those 24 inches or more in trunk diameter outside mapped woodlands, and must replace what's cut down.
The Planning, Building and Development Director may allow the removal of protected significant trees, when deemed necessary to allow: 1. Work shown on approved construction or engineering plans; or 2. Construction of buildings or improvements.
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
Under the county's Unified Development Ordinance, which governs only unincorporated Lake County, a SIGNIFICANT TREE is any non-prohibited species at least 24 inches in diameter at breast height that isn't already counted inside a mapped woodland or grove. At least 70% of a site's significant trees must remain protected, and the Planning, Building and Development Director may authorize removal only to accommodate work on approved construction or engineering plans, or construction of buildings and improvements. Each approved removal is reported to the Planning, Building and Zoning Committee within 15 days. Removed or damaged protected trees must be replaced with stock of equal combined caliper, minimum three inches each. Waukegan, Highland Park, Gurnee, Libertyville and other incorporated towns enforce their own separate tree rules.
Violations & Fines
The Unified Development Ordinance carries no tree-specific fine; violations fall under the county's general penalty of up to $1,000 per day per violation, and replacement trees can be required as a condition of development approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Waukegan or Highland Park?
What counts as a protected significant tree?
Can I just cut a significant tree down myself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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