Every fence in unincorporated McHenry County must be built entirely within your own property boundaries, including posts and footings. Private owners may not install fencing in the public right-of-way. Solid fences also need a building permit and the finished side must face outward.
The UDO's fence construction and design requirements (§ 16.56.050H.1) apply countywide in unincorporated areas. A fence or wall, including all posts, bases and structural parts, must be located completely within the boundaries of your lot, and installing a fence in the public right-of-way is prohibited. Combined with the other subsections, this means: solid fences max six feet (permit required), open fences max eight feet (exempt), finished side facing away from your lot, and posts on the inside. Corner-lot and through-lot sight-triangle rules restrict fences near driveways and intersections. Verify setbacks from the right-of-way edge before you dig.
A fence encroaching over the lot line or into the right-of-way, or built without a required solid-fence permit, is a zoning violation; the county may require relocation, permitting, or removal, with fines for continued non-compliance.
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