Des Plaines, IL Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front and corner side yards
- Max 4 ft (4'-0")
- Rear and interior side yards
- Max 6 ft (6'-0")
- Double-frontage lot at arterial street
- 6 ft along arterial frontage
- Lot abutting railroad
- Up to 8 ft
- Code Section
- Des Plaines City Code 12-8-2
Summary
Des Plaines caps residential fences at 4 feet in front and corner side yards and 6 feet in rear and interior side yards; double-frontage lots may run a 6-foot fence along an arterial street and lots abutting a railroad may build up to 8 feet, all under City Code Section 12-8-2.
Fence Height: 1. Front and Corner Side Yards: Maximum 4'-0" in height. 2. Rear and Interior Side Yards: Maximum 6'-0" in height. 3. Double frontage lots that abut an arterial street may install a 6 feet tall fence along the property line that faces the arterial street. 4. Fences that abut a railroad track may be up to 8 feet tall. Fence Design: 5. Front yard fences must be 50% transparent open.
Full Breakdown
' The maximum height of a fence for a residential use is four feet (4'-0") when located in front yards and corner side yards, and six feet (6'-0") when located in rear yards, interior side yards, or within the buildable area of the lot. Two exceptions allow taller fencing: double-frontage lots that abut an arterial street may install a six-foot tall fence along the property line that faces the arterial street, and lots that abut a railroad track may build a fence up to eight feet tall along the side that abuts the railroad right-of-way.
The maximum height for a nonresidential use is eight feet (8'). Front yard fences carry an additional design rule: they must provide at least fifty percent (50%) open 'see-through' area of uniform distribution. Illinois has no statewide residential fence-height statute; the Illinois Fence Act (765 ILCS 130/) addresses agricultural boundary fences and cost-sharing only, so local height limits like 12-8-2 control.
Violations & Fines
A fence exceeding the 4-foot front/corner or 6-foot rear/side limits is a zoning violation enforced by the Community and Economic Development Department. Each permit is issued individually, and any exception to the height limits may require a formal Variation; non-compliant fences can be ordered lowered or removed and may trigger citations and abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Des Plaines?
Can I build an 8-foot fence in Des Plaines?
Why is my front fence limited to 4 feet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Plaines
How Des Plaines compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Des Plaines to another location·View the Illinois fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle height limits.