Lake County Indiana Contractor License

Lake County is one of the most complex licensing environments in Indiana because it isn't one system — it's several. The Lake County Plan Commission handles unincorporated county lands, but every incorporated city within the county maintains its own independent contractor registration process. That means a contractor working across Crown Point, Schererville, East Chicago, and Hobart could need four separate registrations on top of the county license.

Unincorporated Lake County (Plan Commission)

The Lake County Plan Commission regulates contractors working outside incorporated city limits. The requirements are more involved than what most Indiana jurisdictions demand:

Initial fee: $300

Written exam: The qualifying individual must pass a written examination with a score of 76% or higher. Tests are held at the government complex in Crown Point on published dates throughout the year.

Application packet: You'll need to submit two colored 2"×2" passport photos and two notarized character endorsements. The endorsements must come from unrelated Lake County residents who own real estate in the county.

Surety bond: $5,000, recorded with the Lake County Recorder's Office before you submit your application. The bond must carry specific obligee wording: "Board of Commissioners of Lake County, Indiana, and all Cities, Towns, and Municipalities therein."

General liability: Minimum $500,000 coverage.

Annual renewal: $75, due by December 31 each year, requiring a notarized application and confirmation of local zoning compliance.

The character endorsement requirement is unusual among Indiana jurisdictions. Finding two unrelated Lake County property owners who will sign notarized letters attesting to your professional character takes planning, so start that process early.

Crown Point

Crown Point licensing is handled by the Clerk-Treasurer's Office, with its own separate registration on top of any Lake County Plan Commission license:

• Initial registration fee: $100
• Surety bond: $5,000 recorded with the Lake County Recorder's Office (same bond used for county licensing)
• General liability: At least $500,000 naming the City of Crown Point as the certificate holder
• Exam waiver: Contractors who hold an active license from unincorporated Lake County can bypass Crown Point's written exam — except for electrical contractors, who must take the Crown Point exam regardless

The exam waiver is a practical benefit of getting your Lake County Plan Commission license first. It eliminates one testing step when you expand into Crown Point.

Schererville

Schererville runs a lighter registration process:

• Initial registration fee: $100 (covers a calendar year)
• Annual renewal: $50 if paid by March 1
• Surety bond: $5,000 recorded with the Lake County Recorder's Office
• Electrical contractors: Must pass a specialized Schererville electrical exam (no fee, open-book, two-hour limit)

General contractors who aren't doing electrical work face a straightforward registration — no exam, just the bond, insurance, and registration fee.

East Chicago

East Chicago's licensing follows a calendar year from January 1 to December 31:

• Initial fee: $200 plus a $50 exam fee
• Exam schedule: Third Thursday of each month (except December)
• Annual renewal: $100 if submitted on time; $200 if submitted after February 17 (late fee penalty)
• Surety bond: $5,000 recorded Lake County bond

The late renewal penalty doubles the cost, so mark your calendar for early February if you're working in East Chicago.

Hobart

Hobart requires a $250 initial registration fee (split as $125 application plus $125 first-year license). Annual renewals run $75. The same $5,000 recorded Lake County bond applies. Plumbing registrations here don't require a local exam but do require proof of an active state IPLA plumbing license.

The Practical Strategy

Because the $5,000 surety bond recorded with the Lake County Recorder's Office serves multiple jurisdictions, most contractors record that bond first and then use it across the county and its cities. The bond wording that names "all Cities, Towns, and Municipalities" is designed to cover this exact scenario.

The most efficient path through Lake County licensing is: record your bond with the Recorder's Office, get your Plan Commission license (which includes the exam), and then use the exam waiver to register in Crown Point. Schererville and Hobart registrations can happen in parallel since they don't require the county exam for general contractors.

Our Indiana General Contractor License Guide maps out the Lake County licensing sequence and the exact bond obligee wording that satisfies both the county and its municipalities.

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