Title
Ordinance amending Chapter 151: Unified Development Ordinance of the Lake County, Illinois, Code of Ordinances relating to sustainable energy facilities in unincorporated Lake County.
Staff Summary
• The Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) conducted a public hearing on August 12, 2026, to consider proposed text amendments focused on commercial wind and solar energy facilities and energy storage systems in unincorporated Lake County and unanimously recommended approval of the proposed amendments as presented in ZBA Resolution “Exhibit A”, attached.
• The proposed amendments are necessary to comply with recent regulations adopted by the state.
• The recommended amendments have been formatted into a document ready for codification as reflected in “Exhibit B”. The Ordinance will become effective upon County Board adoption of “Exhibit B”.
Body
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board adopted the Unified Development Ordinance of Lake County, Illinois, on April 11, 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board incorporated the Lake County Unified Development Ordinance into the Lake County, Illinois, Code of Ordinances as Chapter 151 of the Lake County, Illinois, Code of Ordinances on February 10, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Public Act 104-0458, enacted on January 8, 2026, expands and modifies existing statutory limits on county regulations for commercial wind and solar facilities, and introduces new statutory limits on county regulations for energy storage systems throughout the State of Illinois, and mandates county adoption of corresponding regulations; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee was of the opinion that necessary steps should be taken by the Lake County Board to initiate the public hearing process to facilitate public engagement and evaluation of proposed amendments; and
WHEREAS, on June 9, 2026, the Lake County Board directed the Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals to conduct a public hearing upon staff’s completion of draft amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Building and Development Department prepared draft amendments to the text of the Lake County Code of Ordinances related to regulation of energy facilities in unincorporated Lake County as necessary to align with statutory requirements and submitted proposed amendments to the Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) at a public hearing; and
WHEREAS, the ZBA conducted a public hearing on the proposed amendments on August 12, 2026, pursuant to the Statutes of the State of Illinois on the petition of the County of Lake, which seeks to amend the text of Chapter 151 of the Lake County, Illinois, Code of Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, your Zoning Board of Appeals, after reviewing the testimony presented at the public hearing on the aforesaid petition, has submitted its report thereon to the County Board and recommends by a vote of 6-0 that the proposed text amendments specified as “Exhibit A” be approved; and
WHEREAS, your Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee duly considered the proposed text amendments aforedescribed and recommends that the text amendments as specified in “Exhibit A” be approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the amendments to Chapter 151 of the Lake County, Illinois, Code of Ordinances as attached in “Exhibit B” be adopted and made effective immediately; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Clerk of the County Board shall keep a record of this action.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on September 8, 2026.