Lake County, IL Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Lake County Code § 71.02
- Driveway rule
- No parking in front of driveway
- Sheriff citation fine
- $35, $15 if paid in 7 days
- Administrative fine
- $40 minimum per offense
- Scope
- County/township highways, not incorporated cities
Summary
Lake County bans parking or standing in front of driveways, within 15 feet of hydrants, 20 feet of crosswalks, and other listed spots on county and township highways outside cities like Waukegan and Libertyville.
Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device, no person shall stand or park a vehicle whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge passengers: (A) In front of a public or private driveway; (B) Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant; (C) Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;
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 § 71.02, no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle on a state, county, or township highway in front of a driveway, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk, 30 feet of a stop or traffic signal, near emergency-vehicle entrances, hospital emergency entrances, or within 50 feet of a railroad crossing. Section 71.08 also requires parking parallel to the curb, wheels within 12 inches of the curb, facing the direction of authorized traffic movement: no wrong-way parking. These rules bind county and township roads; Waukegan, North Chicago, Highland Park, Gurnee, and Libertyville set their own street-parking rules within city limits.
Violations & Fines
Violations of § 71.02 carry a $35 sheriff's citation ($15 if paid within 7 days) or a $40 minimum fine under county administrative adjudication; handicap-space violations carry a $250 minimum fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park in front of my neighbor's driveway on a county road in Lake County?
Does this parking law apply inside Waukegan or Libertyville?
What happens if I park facing the wrong way against traffic?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois parking rules overview
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