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Peoria County, IL Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Residential fence height cap
6 feet
Open fence in front setback
4 feet maximum
Corner lot solid fence setback
10 feet from property line
Permit exemption
Fences under 100 feet in total length
Sight triangle, local street
15 feet from intersection

Summary

Peoria County caps residential fences at six feet, but any solid fence in the front setback past the building line is capped at four feet and must stay open in style. Corner lots carry an extra rule pushing solid fences ten feet off the property line.

City-specific rules exist: Peoria has its own height limits rules that differ from Peoria County's county-level regulations. If you live in Peoria, check the city-specific page instead.

1.No fence may exceed six (6) feet in height.2.Except as provided in subsection 7.4.6-4 below, no solid fence shall be constructed in a front setback past the front building line.3.An open fence may be erected on a premises anywhere within six (6) inches of the property lines, including the front setback past the building line and the front and side setbacks past the building lines in the case of corner lots. The height of such fences shall not exceed four (4) feet.4.In the case of solid fences on corner lots, that part of the fence which encloses the front setback facing the side street shall be erected ten (10) feet from the property line.5.Perimeter fences may be erected in the side and rear setback behind the front building line.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).

Full Breakdown

Peoria County's Unified Development Ordinance sets fence height by location on the lot rather than a single flat number. Under UDO Sec. 6, no residential fence may exceed six feet in height anywhere on the property, but a solid fence cannot be built in the front setback past the front building line at all, except in the corner-lot case described below. An open-style fence, meaning one that is not solid, may be erected as close as six inches from the property lines, including through the front setback past the building line and, on corner lots, through the front and side setbacks facing the street, but that open fence is capped at four feet rather than six.

Corner lots get an additional rule: where a solid fence encloses the front setback facing the side street, that portion of the fence must be set back ten feet from the property line. Behind the front building line, perimeter fences may run the full six feet in the side and rear setbacks. Before any of this applies, Sec. 1 generally requires a building permit to erect a fence, though fences under 100 feet of total length, ornamental fencing like lattices and trellises, and agricultural fencing are exempt from that permit under Sec.

2. Separately, the ordinance's clear sight triangle rule at Sec. 5 restricts obstructions, which can include fences, within 15 feet of the intersecting right-of-way lines at a local street intersection, 35 feet at a county collector or non-primary street, and 50 feet at a state highway or county primary street.

Violations & Fines

Erecting a fence taller than the applicable height limit, building a solid fence within a front setback where only an open fence is allowed, or skipping the required building permit for a fence over 100 feet in length is a zoning violation the Peoria County Planning and Zoning Department can enforce by ordering the fence removed or shortened to the compliant height. Barbed wire, electrical, spiked, or glass-topped fences are separately prohibited outright under Sec. 7.4.3 except for specific exempted uses like agriculture or public utilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can a backyard fence be in Peoria County?
Up to six feet under UDO Sec. 7.4.6, as long as it sits behind the front building line. A fence in the front setback past the building line is more restricted: a solid fence generally is not allowed there at all, while an open fence is capped at four feet.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Peoria County?
Generally yes, under Sec. 7.4.1, unless the fence is for agriculture, is purely ornamental like a lattice or trellis, or totals less than 100 feet in length, all of which are exempt under Sec. 7.4.2.
Are there special fence rules for corner lots in Peoria County?
Yes. Under Sec. 7.4.6, a solid fence enclosing the front setback facing the side street on a corner lot must be set back ten feet from the property line, and the county's separate clear sight triangle rule in Sec. 6.1.5 restricts obstructions near the intersection itself.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Peoria County

All Peoria County rules

How Peoria County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Peoria County to another location·View the Illinois fence regulations overview

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