Building a fence might sound simple, but many Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana homeowners quickly discover there’s a pile of permits, rules, and paperwork to deal with. In most neighborhoods, you’ll absolutely need a building permit before you can install that privacy fence you’ve been thinking about.
As professional fence installers, we get it — paperwork is usually the last thing homeowners want to think about. This guide will help you understand the permit requirements in your area so you can avoid delays, fines, and unnecessary headaches when planning your new fence.
Permit fees across Chicagoland usually range from $50 to $200 for typical residential fence projects.
The Permit Rules Every Chicagoland Homeowner Should Know
Getting through zoning rules and building codes for a new fence can feel like a lot. Requirements change from town to town across Chicagoland, and here’s what to expect in some areas:
- Naperville Some neighborhoods limit the fence materials you can use. Historic district requires a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) may not allow certain fences in front yards at all.
- Chicago Offers an express permit program for residential fences under five feet tall to speed things up.
- Orland Park Sets strict safety rules for pool fences, including self-latching gates and minimum height requirements.
Learning these basics now can save time and stress later. Working with a professional installer like Cedar Rustic Fence Co. can also make handling these rules a lot easier.
Key Regulations for Fence Type and Location
The materials and style of your fence will need to follow specific rules depending on where you live. Local zoning often limits both the height and the materials allowed, especially for fences that face public streets. Knowing these limits before you pick your design can help you avoid delays or costly changes.
Most Chicagoland communities have adopted the International Residential Code (IRC), which establishes structural requirements for fences to ensure they remain stable and safe for residential properties. These codes focus on proper installation techniques and materials suitable for local weather conditions.
Extra rules apply to pool fences, which must meet certain safety standards.
These regulations exist to protect property values, ensure safety, and maintain neighborhood aesthetics, making them valuable guidelines rather than mere obstacles to your project.
Documents for Your Fence Permit
Preparing the necessary documents for your fence permit application is a crucial step in ensuring a smooth approval process. Most municipalities require similar paperwork, though specific requirements can vary depending on your location and the complexity of your project. Understanding these requirements upfront can save you multiple trips to the building department.
Plat of Survey (Current)
You’ll need an up-to-date, official survey of your property. This shows your property lines, existing buildings, and any easements. Outdated surveys may not be acceptable. You may need a new survey if you have done any remodeling work like a home addition, new garage, or large shed.
Site Plan Showing Fence Location
You must provide a drawing that clearly shows where the fence will go. This is often done right on a copy of your plat of survey. You’ll need to mark the fence’s location in relation to property lines, buildings, and any setbacks from streets or sidewalks.
Fence Specifications
Most towns will also want details about the fence itself. This includes the height, materials, design, and how it will be built. For a standard residential fence, this can usually be covered by giving the city manufacturer brochures or detailed drawings that show the design you’ve chosen.
What Happens If You Skip Getting a Permit?
Skipping the permit process might sound like an easy way to save time or money, but it can lead to major headaches and big expenses. It's nearly impossible to hide a new fence installation since you're required to call JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) before digging to mark underground utilities. When you make this required call, local townships receive notification that a fence is being installed, making unpermitted work easily discoverable by building departments.
- Financial penalties Fines typically range from $500 to $1,000 in most Chicagoland communities, with additional daily penalties possible for continued non-compliance.
- Stop work orders Building departments can halt your fence installation mid-project if they discover it lacks proper permits, leaving you with an unfinished fence and potential security issues.
- Requirement to remove non-compliant fences If your fence doesn’t meet height or setback rules, you might be forced to remove it completely. That’s not only frustrating but also a waste of your time and money.
- Complications when selling your home Unpermitted structures often create problems during home sales, as they appear as open permits or violations during title searches, potentially delaying or derailing your closing.
- Potential neighbor disputes Building without a permit can lead to boundary disputes with neighbors. Without confirming property lines through the permit process, you might end up facing expensive legal issues.
- Contractor could lose their license To install fences in that town.
The permit process isn’t just a hoop to jump through. It protects homeowners by making sure fences are safe, built within property lines, and follow community rules. Compared to the cost of fines or having to remove your fence, permit fees are a small price for peace of mind.
Fence Permit Process: Timeline and What to Expect
The time it takes to get a fence permit can vary a lot depending on where you live in Chicagoland and how complex your project is. In most cases, the process takes anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Knowing what to expect can help you plan your project better and avoid unnecessary delays.
- Application preparation: Gather all necessary documents (1-2 days).
- In most cases, you need a copy of your plat of survey, a copy of your contract, and a completed application.
- The application includes your name, address, property owner information, project type (fence), fence style, height, and placement details.
- Permit submission: Submit completed application to your local building department.
- Drop off the application in person or file online through the municipality's website.
- Most communities have streamlined this process for standard residential fence permits.
- Application review: Building department examines your application (3-10 business days).
- Express permit programs for standard fence designs can reduce this to 1-3 days.
- Most residential fence permits follow a straightforward review process.
- Permit issuance: Receive approval and pay associated fees.
- Many municipalities issue digital permits that you can print and display at your job site.
- Installation: Build your fence according to approved plans.
- Must follow exactly what was approved in your permit.
- Final inspection: Schedule inspection after completion (if required).
- Not all municipalities require this for standard fence installations.
- Some require inspection before backfilling post holes.
Pro tip: Start your permit application at least a month before you plan to build, especially in spring or summer when building departments are busier than usual.
