Lake County, IL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 10 inches
- Where it applies
- Platted subdivisions
- Code section
- Lake County Code § 94.05(C)
- Natural-area exemptions
- Open space, wooded tree lines
- Enforcement
- Notice, then abatement/adjudication
Summary
Lake County caps grass and weeds at 10 inches tall within platted subdivisions, treating taller growth as a public nuisance subject to county abatement.
(C) High grass and/or weeds. It is a public nuisance to fail to maintain a property free from grass and/or weed growth in excess of ten inches in height within platted subdivisions. Excluded from this provision are the following: (1) Areas preserved within an open space easement or plat-designated natural area; (2) Plant growth that, in the opinion of the Enforcement Officer, enhances, protects, restores or otherwise supports an identified natural resource; and (3) Plant growth within the tree-line of a natural wooded area.
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 Lake County Code § 94.05(C), letting grass or weeds grow past 10 inches on a property inside a platted subdivision is a public nuisance. The rule exempts open-space or plat-designated natural areas, growth the Enforcement Officer finds supports an identified natural resource, and plant growth within the tree line of a natural wooded area. Unlike some paragraphs of § 94.05 that apply only to unincorporated Lake County, this high-grass provision is not on the unincorporated-only exceptions list in § 94.02(A), so it reaches both incorporated and unincorporated areas per the enforcing department's jurisdictional or contractual authority, though most cities (Waukegan, Highland Park, Gurnee, Libertyville, etc.) also enforce their own weed ordinances.
Violations & Fines
Public nuisance; county issues a notice to abate, then may pursue enforcement or administrative adjudication with a separate fine for each day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds get before it's a violation in Lake County?
Does this rule apply inside cities like Waukegan or Highland Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
How Lake County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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