Lake County, IL Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit type
- Special event permit, § 90.053
- Issuing authority
- Lake County Engineer
- Applies to
- County highways, incl. municipal extensions
- State authority
- 605 ILCS 5/5-414 et seq.
- Max penalty
- $1,000 per day (§ 10.99)
Summary
Lake County's Engineer can issue a special event permit under § 90.053 to temporarily close a county highway for parades, festivals, block parties, and filming, but only on roads within the county highway system, not purely municipal streets.
Pursuant to 605 ILCS 5/5-414 et seq. as amended, the County Engineer may, upon application by the proper authorities of any governmental agency or person, issue a permit to temporarily close any portion of a county highway for any public purpose. Temporary closure of a highway for purpose of special events of public interest and filming shall be authorized by issuance of a special event permit.
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 § 90.053 lets the County Engineer issue a special event permit to temporarily close any portion of a county highway for public-purpose events: the code's own commentary lists parades, marathons, festivals, and filming for movies, TV, or commercials. The permit is one of four right-of-way use permits set out in § 90.052, alongside utility, facility, and single-service-connection permits, and is authorized under 605 ILCS 5/5-414 et seq. It only reaches roads on the county highway system, including municipal extensions of those roads; a closure of a purely local city or village street falls under that municipality's own code instead.
Violations & Fines
Closing a county highway or working in its right-of-way without an approved special event permit is a code violation; under the general penalty at § 10.99, fines run up to $1,000 per day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this permit cover a block party on my city street?
Who issues Lake County's special event street closure permit?
What kinds of events qualify?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois special events & permits overview
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