Lake County, IL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Sound amplification limit
- 70 dB(A) at property line
- Coverage
- Unincorporated Lake County only
- Weekday construction quiet hours
- 9:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.
- Weekend/holiday quiet hours
- 9:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m.
- Enforcement
- 19th Circuit Court or admin adjudication
Summary
Unincorporated Lake County caps neighboring sound amplification at 70 dB(A) measured at the residential property line, under the county's public nuisance ordinance.
(A) Sound amplification. It is a public nuisance to operate or permit operation of any radio or stereo sound amplification system or other sound amplification equipment which: (1) Can be heard at a distance of 100 feet or more from the source vehicle; (2) Can be heard at a distance of 100 feet from the property line of the source property; or (3) Which exceeds 70db(A) (slow meter response) at the property line of any neighboring property zoned and used for residential purposes.
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
In unincorporated Lake County, Illinois, § 94.07(A) of the Public Nuisance Ordinance makes it unlawful to operate a radio, stereo, or other sound amplification system audible 100 feet from the source vehicle or property line, or that exceeds 70 dB(A) on a slow meter response at the property line of any neighboring residential-zoned property. The same section separately bars construction, lawn mowing, and power-tool noise audible 100 feet away between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on weekdays and 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays, with an agricultural-use exemption. The rule applies only outside city and village limits. Waukegan, Highland Park, Gurnee, and other incorporated towns set their own noise codes.
Violations & Fines
Violations are public nuisances enforceable by county notice and abatement, citation to the 19th Judicial Circuit Court, or administrative adjudication, with separate fines for each day a violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 70 dB(A) limit apply inside Waukegan or Highland Park?
What triggers a decibel-based noise violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois noise ordinances overview
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