18 permits · verified 2026-10-07
What permits do you need to open a fitness studio in Lake County Il?
In short
A fitness studio in Lake County Il, IL has 3 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 15 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. Lake County Liquor Control Commission / County Board Office charges $50 per machine per license year (July 1 – June 30); distributor or lessor $200 per year; $10 per-day penalty for payment July 2–31; not prorated or refunded for the amusement device license (unincorporated). 10 of the 18 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-07 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a fitness studio in Lake County Il
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food and Beverage Vending Machine Permitonly if it applies to you | Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center — Environmental Health | Set in the Lake County Health Department's fee schedule, which the Health Department's Environmental Health page states is effective December 1, 2025 and which adjusts on December 1 each year; the Environmental Health office (847-377-8020, www.lakecountyil.gov/2787/Environmental-Health) states the amount for a given vending machine permit. The amount depends on the number of machines at the location | annual | 2026-10-07 |
| Swimming Facility Licenseonly if it applies to you | Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center — Environmental Health | Set in the Lake County Health Department's fee schedule, which the Health Department's Environmental Health page states is effective December 1, 2025 and which adjusts on December 1 each year; the Environmental Health office (847-377-8020, www.lakecountyil.gov/2787/Environmental-Health) states the amount for a given swimming facility license. The amount depends on whether the license is annual or seasonal and the number of facilities at the location | annual or seasonal license | 2026-10-07 |
| Amusement Device License (Unincorporated)only if it applies to you | Lake County Liquor Control Commission / County Board Office | $50 per machine per license year (July 1 – June 30); distributor or lessor $200 per year; $10 per-day penalty for payment July 2–31; not prorated or refunded | license period July 1 – June 30 (Code § 110.39(B)) | 2026-10-07 |
| Massage Establishment License (Unincorporated)only if it applies to you | Lake County Liquor Control Commission / County Board Office | $100 per applicant per year; refunded if the application is denied | one year from the date of issuance (Code § 114.06) | 2026-10-07 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
Local permits that apply to every type of business in Lake County Il
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Building Permit, Plan Examination and Trade Permitsonly if it applies to you | Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department | Varies — formula on the Lake County Il page | per project | 2026-10-07 |
| Zoning Review of Non-Residential Permitsonly if it applies to you | Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department | Varies — formula on the Lake County Il page | per permit | 2026-10-07 |
| County Highway Access Permitonly if it applies to you | Lake County Division of Transportation | Varies — formula on the Lake County Il page | per permit | 2026-10-07 |
| Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Site Plan Review and Construction Permitonly if it applies to you | Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center — Environmental Health | Varies — formula on the Lake County Il page | per project | 2026-10-07 |
| Water Well Construction Permitonly if it applies to you | Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center — Environmental Health | Varies — formula on the Lake County Il page | per project | 2026-10-07 |
| Use Permit (Commercial or Industrial) | Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department | $220 per Use Permit (Land or Building), commercial or industrial; zoning review, building and other permit fees may also apply | one-time, per new business or change of use | 2026-10-07 |
| Early Assistance Meeting (Nonresidential Projects)only if it applies to you | Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department | $291 per Early Assistance Meeting (nonresidential or subdivision projects); credited toward future permits for the presented project | one-time, per project | 2026-10-07 |
| Certificate of Occupancy (Commercial or Industrial)only if it applies to you | Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department | Varies — formula on the Lake County Il page | permanent for the permitted use; a temporary certificate lasts 90 days at most | 2026-10-07 |
| Sign Permitonly if it applies to you | Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department | Varies — formula on the Lake County Il page | per sign | 2026-10-07 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
IL registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services | $150 one-time filing | no expiry, but an annual report is due every year | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services | $175 one-time — $150 filing fee plus $25 minimum initial franchise tax | no expiry, but an annual report and franchise tax are due every year | 2026-09-03 |
| Annual Reportonly if it applies to you | Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services | Varies — formula on the IL page | annual — an LLC files before the first day of its anniversary month | 2026-09-03 |
| Certificate of Registration (Form REG-1) | Illinois Department of Revenue, Central Registration Division | No fee | continuous — no renewal | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — Illinois position (city, not state) | Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | No fee | set by the issuing municipality | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
How much does it actually cost to permit a fitness studio in Lake County Il?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 18 records listed for a fitness studio in Lake County Il, IL, 3 apply to every business of this type and 15 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
Of the 3 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $220.00. That is a floor, not a total. 10 of the 18 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Food and Beverage Vending Machine Permit: Set in the Lake County Health Department's fee schedule, which the Health Department's Environmental Health page states is effective December 1, 2025 and which adjusts on December 1 each year; the Environmental Health office (847-377-8020, www.lakecountyil.gov/2787/Environmental-Health) states the amount for a given vending machine permit. The amount depends on the number of machines at the location
Swimming Facility License: Set in the Lake County Health Department's fee schedule, which the Health Department's Environmental Health page states is effective December 1, 2025 and which adjusts on December 1 each year; the Environmental Health office (847-377-8020, www.lakecountyil.gov/2787/Environmental-Health) states the amount for a given swimming facility license. The amount depends on whether the license is annual or seasonal and the number of facilities at the location
The other 8 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Lake County Il permits page and the IL state page.
Which offices issue these permits in Lake County Il?
Permits for a fitness studio in Lake County Il, IL come from 7 separate offices: Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center — Environmental Health, Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department, Lake County Division of Transportation, Lake County Liquor Control Commission / County Board Office, Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, Illinois Department of Revenue, Central Registration Division, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center — Environmental HealthIssues 4 permits on this page: Food and Beverage Vending Machine Permit, Swimming Facility License, Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Site Plan Review and Construction Permit, Water Well Construction Permit500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, IL 60048 · 847-377-8020www.lakecountyil.gov/2787/Environmental-Health
- Lake County Planning, Building and Development DepartmentIssues 6 permits on this page, including Commercial Building Permit, Plan Examination and Trade Permits, Zoning Review of Non-Residential Permits, Use Permit (Commercial or Industrial)500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, IL 60048 · 847-377-2600www.lakecountyil.gov/2046/Permits-Approvals-and-Early-Assistance
- Lake County Division of TransportationIssues 1 permit on this page: County Highway Access Permitwww.lakecountyil.gov/659/Permits
- Lake County Liquor Control Commission / County Board OfficeIssues 2 permits on this page: Amusement Device License (Unincorporated), Massage Establishment License (Unincorporated)18 N. County Street, 10th Floor, Waukegan, IL 60085 · 847-377-2300www.lakecountyil.gov/2408/Liquor-Commission
- Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business ServicesIssues 3 permits on this page: Articles of Organization (LLC), Articles of Incorporation, Annual Report501 South Second Street, Room 351, Springfield, IL 62756 · (217) 524-8008www.ilsos.gov/departments/business_services
- Illinois Department of Revenue, Central Registration DivisionIssues 1 permit on this page: Certificate of Registration (Form REG-1)Central Registration Division, Illinois Department of Revenue, PO Box 19030, Springfield, IL 62794-9030 · (217) 785-3707mytax.illinois.gov
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic OpportunityIssues 1 permit on this page: General Business License — Illinois position (city, not state)(800) 252-2923dceo.illinois.gov/smallbizassistance/beginhere/stepbystepguide.html
What does a fitness studio need in Lake County Il that other businesses do not?
1 of the 4 permits particular to a fitness studio here applies to no other business type we cover in Lake County Il: Swimming Facility License.
Food and Beverage Vending Machine Permit
Food and beverage vending machines in Lake County carry an annual Health Department permit, with the fee set by the number of machines at each location; a retail store or fitness studio with food or beverage machines on its premises falls within this permit. The fee is as published in the Lake County Health Department's fee schedule, adopted under County Code § 178.01, which the Health Department's Environmental Health page states is effective December 1, 2025; the schedule adjusts on December 1 each year, and the Environmental Health office (847-377-8020) states the amount for a given permit or license.
Swimming Facility License
County Code § 174.055 states: "No person shall operate a swimming facility without a valid license issued by the Health Officer." Chapter 174 covers "swimming pools, spas, and public bathing beaches" (§ 174.003). The license is issued as an annual or a seasonal license, and the fee depends on that choice and on the number of facilities at the location. The fee is as published in the Lake County Health Department's fee schedule, adopted under County Code § 178.01, which the Health Department's Environmental Health page states is effective December 1, 2025; the schedule adjusts on December 1 each year, and the Environmental Health office (847-377-8020) states the amount for a given permit or license. A fitness studio without a pool or spa has no swimming facility license.
Massage Establishment License (Unincorporated)
County Code ch. 114 regulates massage establishments, and § 114.01 states: "This chapter shall apply only in the unincorporated areas of Lake County, Illinois." Under § 114.05, "The annual license fee shall be $100 for each applicant. This fee shall accompany the application and shall be refunded in those cases where the application for a license is denied." The license "will terminate at the expiration of one year from the date of its issuance" (§ 114.06), and the Chair of the County Board acts as License Officer (§ 114.07). Section 114.05 also allows the Health Department and PB&D to charge reasonable fees for their inspections.
Shared with other businesses in Lake County Il
- Amusement Device License (Unincorporated) — Lake County Liquor Control Commission / County Board Office, $50 per machine per license year (July 1 – June 30); distributor or lessor $200 per year; $10 per-day penalty for payment July 2–31; not prorated or refunded, license period July 1 – June 30 (Code § 110.39(B)). Also required for restaurants and retail stores; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.
The other 9 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Lake County Il, IL; what each one involves is set out on the Lake County Il permits page. The 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across IL and are covered on the IL state page.
How does a fitness studio compare with other businesses in Lake County Il?
The closest match is a salon or barber, which shares 1 of these permits. A fitness studio also needs Food and Beverage Vending Machine Permit, Swimming Facility License and Amusement Device License (Unincorporated). A salon or barber needs Salon or Shop Registration, which a fitness studio does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a fitness studio | Only a fitness studio needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salons and barbers | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Retail stores | 10 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Restaurants | 13 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Auto repair shops | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Childcare centres | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Coffee shops | 10 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| Contractors and trades | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Food trucks | 7 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Veterinary clinics | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
Sources
Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the retail stores page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Lake County Il permits page and the IL state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Environmental HealthLake County Health Department and Community Health Center · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Lake County Code § 178.01 (Health Department fees established and amended)Lake County, Illinois (American Legal Publishing codification) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Lake County Code § 174.055 (swimming facility license)Lake County, Illinois (American Legal Publishing codification) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Lake County Code ch. 174 (swimming facilities; § 174.003 scope)Lake County, Illinois (American Legal Publishing codification) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
- Lake County Code ch. 114 (massage establishments)Lake County, Illinois (American Legal Publishing codification) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-07
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.