What do these permits involve in Lake County?

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On-Site Wastewater (Septic) Disposal Permit (Lake County Health Department)

A business site in Lake County that is not on a public sewer and installs or repairs an on-site wastewater (septic) system needs a Lake County Health Department permit; a site on a public sewer has no septic permit. As set in Ord. 1336A-3, the Lake County health fee ordinance amendment signed October 14, 2025 and printed in the Lake County Council's minutes of that meeting, the Environmental fees are $250 for a new commercial or residential on-site wastewater disposal permit of the trench type, $275 for a new permit using a mound or technologies new to Indiana as defined by code, and $150 for a repair permit, with a $20 well water sample collection fee. The Lake County Plan Commission's Procedure for Requesting a Building Permit lists Lake County Health Department approval among the approval letters that must accompany a commercial building permit application where the proposed sewage disposal is by septic tank, and a final health department approval among the items needed before a final inspection. The department's Septic Systems page links the septic permit application.

Commercial Building Permit, Inspections and Certificate of Occupancy (Unincorporated Lake County)

The Lake County Plan Commission's Planning & Building Department issues building permits and conducts inspections; its page states "Jurisdiction authority extends to unincorporated Lake County. No jurisdiction in incorporated areas." Fees are those of Building Code No. 18 for unincorporated Lake County, which the state Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission approved April 5, 1988, whose commercial schedule carries the note "Revised permit zoning fees per Ord. 1564 dated 1/11/94", and whose permit validity and renewal sections date from Ord. 2158 approved 9/12/06. The county's Building Department Forms page lists the code, and UDO No. 2560 Table 17-2 sets zoning permit fees "as established in the Building Code (Ord. No 18)". Under the commercial schedule a new building with public access such as a store pays $30 for the first $1,000 of valuation plus $10 per additional $1,000 (minimum $300, zoning fee $100); an addition pays the same rate (minimum $100, zoning $50); remodelling pays $15 plus $5 per $1,000 (minimum $100, zoning $50). The posted schedule adds "plus fees for plumbing, electrical, mechanical – (see attached)"; those attachments are not part of the posted PDF, so ask the department for them at (219) 755-3700. A permit is valid two years; renewal costs 80% or 40% of the original building fee (minimum $10), and starting work before the permit costs three times the building fee. The department's Procedure for Requesting a Building Permit lists a $50 re-inspection fee, requires state Construction Design Release for commercial work, and states that no building may be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy and/or Use is issued.

Zoning Applications under Unified Development Ordinance No. 2560 (Unincorporated Lake County)

Lake County Unified Development Ordinance No. 2560, adopted June 13, 2023 and posted in its August 2025 printing including Ords. 2571, 2574 and 2590, governs zoning in unincorporated Lake County; § 154-1-040 states "The provisions of this UDO apply within unincorporated Lake County. They do not apply within incorporated cities", and a site inside a city or town follows that municipality's zoning. The Plan Commission handles zone changes, subdivision approvals, change of use permits, special exceptions and variances, with the Board of Zoning Appeals deciding variances and appeals. As set in UDO Table 17-2 (§ 154-17-010(D)(4)), an agricultural or residential rezoning costs $200 and any other rezoning $400 plus $25 per acre; a special exception $200 plus $10 per acre; a site plan or rezoning plan $200 plus $25 per acre up to $780; a use variance $400 and any other zoning variance $200; an appeal of an administrative decision $300, refundable if the decision is reversed; and certificate of occupancy copies $1 each. A special-called meeting costs $750 before the Plan Commission and $300 before the Board of Zoning Appeals. Zoning permit fees themselves follow Building Code No. 18. Under UDO § 154-17-010(D)(5) an application is complete only when accompanied by the required fee.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
On-Site Wastewater (Septic) Disposal Permit (Lake County Health Department)only if it applies to you	Lake County Health Department (Food Safety and Environmental Health Divisions)	Commercial and residential new on-site wastewater disposal permit, trench type $250; new permit for mound and technologies new to Indiana as defined by code $275; repair permit $150. Well water sample collection fee $20.	per installation or repair	2026-10-15
Commercial Building Permit, Inspections and Certificate of Occupancy (Unincorporated Lake County)only if it applies to you	Lake County Plan Commission — Planning & Building Department	Building Code No. 18 commercial schedule (building fee; minimum; zoning fee): new commercial buildings with public access (e.g. stores) $30 for the first $1,000 of valuation plus $10 for each additional $1,000, minimum $300, zoning fee $100; commercial additions $30 first $1,000 plus $10 each additional $1,000, minimum $100, zoning fee $50; remodelling $15 first $1,000 plus $5 each additional $1,000, minimum $100, zoning fee $50. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical fees are additional. Re-inspection $50. Permit renewal before expiry: 80% of the original building fee for a two-year renewal, 40% for a one-year renewal, minimum $10. Starting construction before obtaining a permit: a fee of three times the original building fee.	two years from the date of issuance (Building Code No. 18 § 12, Ord. 2158 approved 9/12/06); one renewal if requested and paid before expiry	2026-10-15
Zoning Applications under Unified Development Ordinance No. 2560 (Unincorporated Lake County)only if it applies to you	Lake County Plan Commission — Planning & Building Department	UDO Table 17-2: agricultural/residential rezoning $200; all other rezonings $400 plus $25 per acre or portion of an acre; special exceptions $200 plus $10 per acre or portion; site plan/rezoning plan $200 plus $25 per acre or portion, total not to exceed $780; use variance $400; all other zoning variances $200; appeals of administrative decisions $300 (refundable if the decision is reversed); zoning permit fees as established in Building Code No. 18; certificate of occupancy copies $1 each; special-called meeting of the Plan Commission $750, of the Board of Zoning Appeals $300.	per application	2026-10-15

Business licenses and permits in Lake County, Indiana

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Permits that apply to every type of business in Lake County