OPEN means an investigation, not a confirmed violation. Lake County’s public code-case search covers unincorporated properties; a city or town has its own enforcement office. Check that jurisdiction before interpreting a search result. Search scope and definitions
Read the label before drawing a conclusion
This LSL comparison groups the County’s published labels by what they describe. It is not a required sequence: a case does not necessarily pass through every row.
| Displayed label | County’s stated meaning, in plain language | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| OPEN | Investigation underway | What issue is being investigated? |
| HEARING | Being processed for a public hearing | Is there a hearing notice and date? |
| ORDER | An enforcement order applies | Obtain the actual order and its terms |
| ORDER OF FINE | Fines assessed | Ask for the applicable order and current account information |
| CLOSE | The violation is closed | What record explains closure? |
| NO VIOLATION | No violation | Which complaint and investigated condition does that finding concern? |
| DUPLICATE | Another case already exists | What is the original case number? |
| REFFERED | Sent to another agency; this is the search’s spelling | Which agency received it? |
| RSLVONS | Resolved at the site | What condition and response were recorded? |
The search also includes CANCEL, UNVERIFIABLE and WTR BRO. Those describe cancellation, an investigation that could not be initiated, or provision of a water brochure—not a general certification that a property complies with every rule.
Match the case, not just the address
The interface accepts a case number, address, alternate key, owner, status or opening-date range. Compare the returned identifiers with the property and issue you intended to research. A result for a nearby address or an older complaint may answer a different question. Search fields
For follow-up, identify the case number, displayed label and date you looked it up. Ask for the particular missing record—such as the hearing notice, order, original duplicate case or closure explanation—instead of asking whether the entire property is “clear.” These are LSL’s question prompts, not additional County filing requirements.
Use the status contact before filing again
If you recently reported the same location, the County asks you to contact 352-742-3950 for an update before submitting a duplicate. Its complaint form requests identifying information and warns that complaints are subject to public-records law. Do not assume a new submission is anonymous or a faster way to advance the existing case. Complaint and follow-up instructions
The County says the search data is informational, uncertified and subject to correction. Obtain the relevant official record before relying on it for a legal, regulatory or transaction decision. LSL checked the interface and instructions on September 20, 2026; we did not search a private property, submit a complaint or determine compliance.