Fence Regulations in Cook County, IL (2026)

4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Cook County, Illinois.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Cook County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Height Limits

Homeowners in unincorporated Cook County can put up a privacy fence, wall, hedge or shrubbery up to six feet tall, but that drops to three feet the moment it sits in a required front yard or corner side yard, under Zoning Ordinance § 8.7.1(A).

Cook County Caps Privacy Fence Height At Six Feet

Some Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance § 8.7.1(A)

A.Fences, walls, hedges and shrubbery may be erected, placed, maintained or grown within ten feet of a lot line on property abutting or located in a residential district unless otherwise provided in Section 8.4. The height of a fence, wall, hedge or shrubbery shall not exceed six feet above ground level and, if located in a required front or corner side yard, shall not exceed a height of three ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Fence Permit Requirements

Fence permits are required in unincorporated Cook County for most fence installations. The Cook County Department of Building and Zoning reviews fence applications for compliance with height limits, setback requirements, material standards, and the zoning ordinance.

Cook County Fence Permit Requirements

Some Restrictions

Cook County ePermit — Fence (Cook County Zoning Ordinance definition)

Fence — A "fence" as per the Cook County Zoning Ordinance, is a structure which is a barrier and is used as a boundary, screen, separation, and a means of privacy, protection or confinement and is constructed of wood, plastic, metal, wire mesh, masonry or other similar material.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Neighbor Fence Rules

Cook County follows Illinois common law regarding shared boundary fences. Illinois does not have a mandatory fence-sharing statute. Both neighbors may build on their own side of the property line. Permits required regardless.

Cook County Neighbor Fence Rules

Some Restrictions

Cook County Department of Building and Zoning - Fence Permit Requirements (Rev. 08/21/2019)

State that the finished side of the fence will face out from the subject property. The poles, supports and braces must be on the owner's side of the property so that the finished side faces the neighbors and public streets.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Material Restrictions

In unincorporated Cook County, fences can't use barbed wire, razor wire or iron spikes on residential lots, with narrow exceptions for commercial/industrial land and securing hazardous equipment.

Cook County Bars Barbed and Razor Wire

Some Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance § 8.7.1.E

Fence(s) shall not be erected using barbed wire, razor wire, iron spike or other sharp-pointed materials provided, however, this section shall not prohibit the use of such materials when used entirely on private property and when: 1. Located in a commercial or industrial zoning district... subject to the approval of the Building Commissioner...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗