Fence permits in Waukegan, IL

A permit is required for every fence in Waukegan, including replacement fences.

"Permits are required for all fences within the City of Waukegan (replacements included)."

Source: waukeganil.gov

The Unified Development Ordinance says the same.

"Permits are required for all fences within the City of Waukegan including replacement fences."

Source: waukeganil.gov

Applications are submitted online only, through the city's permit portal (https://h9.maintstar.co/waukegan/portal/).

"All applications need to be submitted online at this time"

Source: waukeganil.gov

The application needs a signed contract (or a homeowner's statement) showing height and material.

"Height and material type must be included on the contract."

Source: waukeganil.gov

Fence contractors must register with the city before pulling a permit.

"All fence contractors need to be registered with the City of Waukegan"

Source: waukeganil.gov

Contractor registration costs $100 a year.

"$100.00 Annual Registration Fee"

Source: waukeganil.gov

Contractor insurance must include $2,000,000 general aggregate liability, with the city as additional insured.

"comprehensive liability general aggregate $2,000,000"

Source: waukeganil.gov

Review can take up to 21 business days in construction season.

"Processing of each application may take up to 21 business days during construction season."

Source: waukeganil.gov

Permit fee is $75 minimum under $3,000, or $125 plus 3% of cost over $3,001, plus a $150 zoning review fee.

"Permit pricing is calculated based on the amount of the contract, minimum of $75.00 for value under $3,000.00. $125.00 base + 3% of construction cost over $3,001.00 value. Zoning Review Fee of $150.00 will be assessed."

Source: waukeganil.gov

Work started without a posted permit doubles the permit fee.

"Permit Fees will be doubled for any work started without an official permit posted."

Source: waukeganil.gov

Fences in interior side yards and rear yards can be any style and up to 6 feet tall.

"Fences in interior side yards and rear yards can be of any type, including chain link and stockade, and are restricted to a maximum height of six feet (6'-0")."

Source: waukeganil.gov

The city's Fence Placement diagram says the same: 6 feet maximum in any interior side or rear yard.

"In any interior side or rear yard, a fence may be erected to a height of no greater than six (6) feet (see Figure 2)."

Source: waukeganil.gov

Front and corner side yards allow only ornamental fences, 4 feet tall at most.

"Residents, and businesses alike, are restricted to ornamental fences in the front and corner side yards and a maximum height of four feet (4'-0")."

Source: waukeganil.gov

UDO section 9.03.C.17.c(2): fences in front or corner side yard setbacks must be ornamental and 50 percent transparent (wrought iron, picket, split rail).

"Fences located within front or corner side yard setbacks must be ornamental in appearance and construction consisting of 50 percent transparency."

Source: waukeganil.gov

Chain link is not accepted as an ornamental fence.

"Chain link fences do not qualify as an ornamental fence."

Source: waukeganil.gov

UDO general standards (Obstruction of Visibility Prohibited, Figure 8.05-1): nothing may block the area between 2.5 and 8 feet high within the sight triangle at street corners.

"No building, structure, sign, or vegetation may obstruct the area between 2.5 feet and 8 feet in height within the sight triangle area."

Source: waukeganil.gov

The same paragraph measures the sight triangle 30 feet along the curb line or pavement edge from where streets meet.

"The sight triangle area is measured along 30 feet of curb line or edge of pavement where no curbs are present, from the point where two or more streets intersect"

Source: waukeganil.gov

UDO section 10.06, Visibility (Figure 10.06-1): at driveways the sight triangle uses 10 feet along the lot line and 10 feet along the driveway, and anything over 50% opaque may not block the 2.5 to 8 foot zone.

"No building, structure, sign, or landscape element that is more than 50 percent opaque may obstruct the area between two and a half feet and eight feet in height within the sight triangle area"

Source: waukeganil.gov

UDO section 9.03.C.17.b: a fence and its posts must stay inside the owner's lot.

"No fence or fence post may encroach on property outside the zoning lot for which a fence permit has been issued."

Source: waukeganil.gov

The application needs a stamped plat of survey with setbacks from lot lines.

"Plat of Survey (Stamped by a State of Illinois Licensed Surveyor) - with location of the proposed work marked clearly with setbacks from lot lines."

Source: waukeganil.gov

A drawing to scale may be accepted if the owner has no survey.

"may be accepted if you do not have a survey"

Source: waukeganil.gov

UDO section 9.03.C.17.c(1): barbed wire, electrically charged wire and razor wire are banned in residential and lakefront districts.

"Fences may not be constructed of barbed wire, electrically charged wire, or razor wire, in the R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, L1, L2, and L3 Districts."

Source: waukeganil.gov

UDO section 9.03.C.17.c: the finished side of the fence must face outward from the lot.

"The finished side of a fence or wall must face outward from the zoning lot"

Source: waukeganil.gov

At final inspection, panels must have the finished side toward the neighbor.

"FINAL (PANELS MUST BE FACED WITH THE FINISHED SIDE TOWARDS YOUR NEIGHBOR)"

Source: waukeganil.gov

Waukegan's fence design guide says fences and self-locking gates must completely surround swimming pools (no height given there).

"Fences and self-locking gates shall be installed to completely surround swimming pools."

Source: waukeganil.gov

Post hole inspections are required with a minimum depth of 36 inches, plus a final inspection.

"POST HOLE INSPECTIONS ARE REQUIRED - MINIMUM DEPTH OF 36""

Source: waukeganil.gov

The permit placard must be posted visible from the street during construction.

"PERMIT PLACARD MUST BE POSTED VISIBLE FROM THE STREET DURING CONSTRUCTION"

Source: waukeganil.gov