Evanston, IL Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Typical max height
- 6 feet in most yards
- Near front facade
- 4 feet maximum
- Nonresidential boundary
- 8 feet allowed
- Street/alley corner sight triangle
- 2.5 ft max height
- Driveway sight triangle
- 4 ft max, 8x8 ft area
Summary
Evanston caps most fences at 6 feet, drops that to 4 feet near the front facade, and allows 8 feet along a lot line bordering a nonresidential use, with mandatory low-height sight triangles at corners.
3.Permitted Fence Height: Fences accessory to the uses listed in this Subsection (F) shall not exceed six (6) feet in height, except:(a)Fences shall not exceed four (4) feet in height when located within the area between a front lot line and three (3) feet behind any front-facing facade of the principal building;(b)Fences shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height when located within a required interior side yard or required rear yard and when the lot line associated with said required yard or an abutting alley is a boundary between a residential use and a nonresidential use;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Fences accessory to a use in Evanston's residential, business, commercial, university, and downtown districts top out at 6 feet. That limit drops to 4 feet in the strip between the front lot line and 3 feet behind the house's front-facing wall, and rises to 8 feet along a side or rear lot line, or an abutting alley, that separates a residential use from a nonresidential one. Temporary construction fences may reach 8 feet, and open-mesh fences around parks, recreation areas, or schools have no height cap. Corner visibility matters too: the code's sight-triangle table caps fence height at 2.5 feet within 20-by-20-foot triangles at street or street/alley intersections, and 4 feet within an 8-by-8-foot triangle where a driveway meets the street.
Violations & Fines
A fence that exceeds the height cap or blocks a required sight triangle is a zoning violation, correctable on order of the Zoning Administrator; continued noncompliance risks fines of $100 to $1,000 per day under § 6-3-10-5.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Evanston?
Why can't I put a tall fence near my corner lot's sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
How Evanston compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Evanston 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.