Lake County, IL Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- Lake County Code § 94.13(E)
- Max fine
- $1,000 per violation
- Applies where
- County enforcement jurisdiction, county- and city-wide
- Enforcement forum
- 19th Judicial Circuit Court or admin adjudication
- Repeat violations
- Each day is separate offense
Summary
Lake County's nuisance ordinance makes it illegal to congregate in front of a business, home, theater, school, or church and block entry or annoy passersby, punishable by county nuisance enforcement.
It is a public nuisance for a person to congregate about or in front of any business or place of dwelling, theater, hall, school, church or elsewhere, and by so doing obstruct or interfere with the free passage of persons entering or occupying any such premises, or by his language, conversation or conduct annoy, insult or disturb persons passing along the streets or alleys or occupying, residing or doing business in any such houses or places.
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
Lake County Code § 94.13(E) declares it a public nuisance to congregate about or in front of a business, dwelling, theater, hall, school, or church and thereby block the free passage of people entering the premises, or to annoy, insult, or disturb passersby and residents through language, conversation, or conduct. The section sits in the county's public nuisance ordinance, which under § 94.02 reaches both unincorporated Lake County and incorporated municipalities to the extent the county has jurisdictional or contractual enforcement authority there, though cities like Waukegan, Highland Park, and Gurnee also enforce their own municipal loitering rules. Violations go to the 19th Judicial Circuit Court or county administrative adjudication.
Violations & Fines
Fined up to $1,000 per violation under the county's general penalty (§ 10.99); each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, cited via circuit court or administrative adjudication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lake County's loitering rule apply inside Waukegan or Highland Park?
What counts as loitering under the county code?
How much is the fine for loitering in Lake County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois public conduct overview
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