Is a permit required?
No fence may be built in Arlington Heights without a permit from the Director of Building.
"No fence shall be erected without having secured a permit from the Director of Building"
Source: cms2.revize.com
How to apply
Fence permits are applied for through the Village's online Civic Access Portal; the applicant, a licensed fence contractor and the owner must each be listed as contacts with portal accounts.
"All permits are applied for through the Civic Access Portal"
Source: cms2.revize.com
The Village says the typical initial review or revision time is two business days.
"the typical time frame allotted for initial review or revisions is 2 business days."
Source: cms2.revize.com
The Civic Access Portal is where residents apply for building permits for fencing, decks, driveways and pools, upload documents and track the application.
"Apply for building permits (fencing, decks, driveways, pools, etc.), upload documents, schedule inspections, communicate with staff, and track your permitting process."
Source: vah.com
What it costs
The Village code sets a fence fee of $40.00 in its building permit related fees.
"12. Fence Fee: $40.00."
Source: library.municode.com
Additional fees may be added after reviews are complete, and the portal did not take online payments at the time of the page.
"Additional fees may be added once all reviews are completed, and application is approved. Please note that for now, payments cannot be made online."
Source: vah.com
How tall it can be in back and side yards
Side and rear yard fences may be solid, open or semi-open and up to six feet tall.
"Side and Rear Yards. Fences can be solid, open or semi-open and shall not exceed a height of six feet"
Source: cms2.revize.com
Front yards and corner lots
Front yard fences are limited to 36 inches, must be open style, and cannot have sharp points.
"Front Yard. Fences shall not exceed a height of 36-inches and shall not contain any sharp points and must be an open fence"
Source: cms2.revize.com
On a corner lot, the side and rear yard parts facing a street may have a six-foot fence only if set at least five feet back from the lot perimeter, with landscaping at least three feet high planted along the street side of the fence.
"may have solid, open or semi open fences erected no closer than five feet to the perimeter of the lot. Landscaping, a minimum of three- foot high and spaced a maximum of 48-inches on center, must be provided"
Source: cms2.revize.com
In an exterior side yard, an open fence up to 36 inches is allowed, and a solid, open or semi-open fence up to six feet is allowed only no closer than five feet to the lot perimeter.
"An open fence, not exceeding a height of 36 inches shall be allowed within the Exterior Side Yard and shall not contain any sharp points."
Source: cms2.revize.com
Corners and driveways
Within 12 feet of intersecting property lines at streets, walks, driveways and paths, fences cannot exceed 36 inches and must be open with no sharp points.
"Within 12 feet of intersecting property lines at streets, walks, driveways, bike paths, or walking paths, fences shall not exceed 36-inches"
Source: cms2.revize.com
In residential districts, no structure or planting may exceed three feet above street grade within 12 feet of intersecting street lines at corner lots, or within 12 feet of walks, driveways and paths between private properties.
"exceeding a height of three feet above the street grade within 12 feet of the intersecting street lines bordering corner lots"
Source: cms2.revize.com
Property lines and surveys
In interior side yards, rear yards and the front yard a fence is allowed on the lot line; corner-lot street sides must be set back five feet for fences over three feet.
"Fences over 3’ must be set back a minimum of 5 feet from the property line"
Source: cms2.revize.com
The permit application must include a marked plat of survey showing the fence location with x's and dimensions, plus the contractor's proposal and a picture or cut sheet of the fence.
"Marked Plat of Survey showing the location of the fence using x's along with the dimensions"
Source: cms2.revize.com
What is not allowed
Barbed wire fencing is prohibited, and slatted chain link fencing is prohibited (slatted fences are allowed only in the M-1 and M-2 industrial districts).
"The use of barbed wire fencing is prohibited; ... Slatted chain link fence is prohibited."
Source: cms2.revize.com
The finished side of every fence must face the adjoining properties, and metal fences must be nine-gauge woven wire or equivalent.
"All fences must be erected with the finished side facing the adjoining properties"
Source: cms2.revize.com
Before anyone digs
Illinois law requires a call to JULIE, the state's one-call system, before digging post holes. Call 811 or (800) 892-0123, or file online, at least 3 days before work starts. The call is free, and the locate is good for 25 days. On a hired job, the company doing the digging makes the call. More on Illinois fence rules
We are not the City of Arlington Heights. Rules change, and some neighborhoods and HOAs have their own. Confirm with the city before you build. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
