Chicago residents want to know — do you need a permit to build a fence?
It depends. The height, location, and construction of the fence determine whether or not you need a permit and which permit to apply for. Simply put, fences less than five feet tall do not typically require a permit, while almost all fences less than 15 feet tall are eligible for an Express Permit.
What is an Express Permit?
The Express Permit Program offers a quick and easy way to obtain a building permit to install fences that don’t involve masonry* (i.e. bricklaying or concrete).
You can use an Express Permit to install fence in your front yard that is up to 4.5 feet tall, install a fence in your front yard up to 6 feet tall (as long as the fence is at least 80% open), install a fence in your backyard up to 6 feet tall, install a fence up to 15 feet tall (with zoning approval), and legalize a fence built without a required building permit.
Note that fences over six feet tall require an official survey of property and a site plan drawn to scale as part of your application.
The only fences that are not eligible for the Express Permit permit are fences that are more than 15 feet tall, or projects which excavate more than 5 feet below existing grade.
A permit is not necessary if you are installing a fence that is no more than 5 feet above the ground (measured on both sides) and that conforms to the Chicago Zoning Ordinance.
In many cases, the Express Permit Program can be used to obtain a permit to legalize a fence that was installed without the proper permit.
*You can build an up to 15 foot wall or fence using masonry (brick, stone, or concrete) construction, if you get drawings prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.
How Do I Apply for an Express Permit?
Before you can apply, you’ll need to get all of the necessary documents in order:
- For a fence taller than 6 feet, you must upload an official survey of your property and a site plan drawn to scale.
- If the property where you’re building the fence is part of a condominium association, you will need to attain an official approval letter from the association.
- If you’re receiving funding from a government entity (such as a Small Business Improvement Fund grant), you’ll need to upload a government ownership or funding letter.
- If you’re building a masonry fence, you’ll need drawings and/or calculations prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.
Once you have all your documents and have met the necessary requirements, you can apply for the Express Permit Program through the City of Chicago’s official website, here.
A licensed general contractor (any class) is always required to be granted an Express Permit. Once you’ve been approved, the contractor will be notified by email and must accept the job using an emailed link before a permit will be issued.
How Do I Find a Licensed Contractor?
You could spend all night looking through Google and Yelp for a licensed contractor. Or you could reach out to the professionals at Bespoke Fence, who has 4.3 stars based on 178 Google reviews and over 400 fence styles to choose from.