Title
Ordinance adopting the ICC International Building Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Residential Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Mechanical Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Fuel Gas Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Swimming Pool and Spa Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Fire Code 2024 (as amended) and the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code 2023 (as amended).
Staff Summary
• The Planning, Building and Development Department periodically updates its building codes and the last update occurred in 2023 with adoption of the 2018 ICC Building Codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code with amendments.
• To ensure the County’s continued eligibility for its current Community Rating System (CRS) rating of “Class 6” to retain comparable flood insurance discount rates for Lake County residents, the County is now required to update its codes to the most recent ICC publications.
• The adoption of the 2024 Building Code series is proposed with minor non-substantive amendments that reflect pagination edits, section changes, removal of previously adopted amendments, and language changes for clarification purposes.
• If adopted, the new codes and amendments will become effective July 12, 2025.
• Projects in process prior to the effective date will be reviewed under the codes in effect at the time of application submittal.
Body
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, this County Board has heretofore adopted the ICC International Building Code 2018, the ICC International Residential Code 2018, the ICC International Mechanical Code 2018, the ICC International Fuel Gas Code 2018, the ICC International Swimming Pool and Spa Code 2018, the ICC International Fire Code 2018 and the NFPA National Electrical Code 2017; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Code requires periodic review to maintain relevancy and address changing conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Building and Development Department recommends the update of the ICC International Building Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Residential Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Mechanical Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Fuel Gas Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Swimming Pool and Spa Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Fire Code 2024 (as amended) and NFPA 70 National Electrical Code 2023 (as amended) to reflect more current standards and practices of construction in Lake County be adopted; and
WHEREAS, three copies of said ICC International Building Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Residential Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Mechanical Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Fuel Gas Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Swimming Pool and Spa Code 2024 (as amended), ICC International Fire Code 2024 (as amended) and NFPA 70 National Electrical Code 2023 (as amended) have been filed in the Office of the Lake County Clerk pursuant to 55 ILCS 5/5-6002, in compliance with the time frame set out therein; and
WHEREAS, your Planning, Building, Zoning and Environment Committee duly considered the proposed codes and amendments before described 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:
Section 1. Effective July 12, 2025, upon passage of this ordinance, the ICC International Building Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Residential Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Mechanical Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Fuel Gas Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Swimming Pool and Spa Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Fire Code 2024 (as amended) and the NFPA National Electrical Code 2023 (as amended), be and are hereby adopted by reference in unincorporated Lake County, Illinois pursuant to 55 ILCS 5/5-6002 through 5-6006. Applicable amendments to these codes are attached hereto and made part hereof.
Section 2. The Planning, Building and Development Department shall enforce the ICC International Building Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Residential Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Mechanical Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Fuel Gas Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Swimming Pool and Spa Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Fire Code 2024 (as amended) and the NFPA National Electrical Code 2023 (as amended) within the Planning, Building and Development Department’s areas of jurisdiction.
Section 3. The penalty for violation of any of the provisions of the ICC International Building Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Residential Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Mechanical Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Fuel Gas Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Swimming Pool and Spa Code 2024 (as amended), the ICC International Fire Code 2024 (as amended) and the NFPA National Electrical Code 2023 (as amended) shall be a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) per offense and that each week that the violation exists shall be a separate offense. Nothing herein, however, shall preclude enforcement proceedings by means other than a fine, including injunction proceedings; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Clerk of the County Board shall keep a record of this action.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on May 13, 2025.