Springfield, IL Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard max (residential)
- 4 ft, must be 50% open
- Residential overall max
- 6 ft above ground level
- Commercial/industrial max
- 8 ft above ground level
- Install clearance excluded
- 3 in.
- Code Section
- Sec. 155.069(a), (b), (e)
Summary
Springfield caps fences in a required front yard at 4 feet (and they must be at least 50% open), limits residential fences to 6 feet overall, and allows up to 8 feet in commercial and industrial districts. Recreational fences (tennis, baseball backstops, etc.) may be taller with a permit.
(a) Requirements in residential districts. No fence may be erected within the city and within a residential district, which does not comply with the following specifications: (1) Any fence erected in a required front yard shall be at least 50% open, and no fence erected in a required front yard may exceed four feet in height measured from ground level. A clearance of three inches shall be allowed for installation purposes and shall not count in determining the height of a fence. No privacy fence may be erected in the front of a residence on the same zoning lot... (3) No fence may be erected which exceeds six feet in height above ground level. (b) Requirements in commercial and industrial districts... (3) No fence may exceed a height of eight feet above ground level. A clearance of three inches shall be allowed for installation purposes and shall not count in determining the height of a fence.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 82).
Full Breakdown
069. In residential districts, no fence in a required front yard may exceed four feet in height measured from ground level, and any front-yard fence must be at least 50% open; no privacy fence may be erected in front of a residence. Elsewhere on a residential lot no fence may exceed six feet above ground level. A three-inch clearance is allowed for installation and does not count toward the height. In commercial and industrial districts (subsection (b)) no fence may exceed eight feet above ground level, again with a three-inch installation clearance.
Recreational-facility fences under subsection (e) are exempt from these limits and may reach 10 feet (basketball court), 12 feet (tennis court), 16 feet (baseball backstop), or 8 feet (public swimming pools and schools), provided the fence is at least 75% open, a permit is obtained, and it is not within 20 feet of a corner formed by two street lines. 213.
Violations & Fines
Building a fence taller than allowed (over 4 ft in a front yard, over 6 ft residential, or over 8 ft commercial/industrial) without a variance is a zoning violation enforced by the Office of the Zoning Administrator. Because any fence over four feet also requires a permit, an over-height fence built without one is subject to the standard fines for building structures without a permit, in addition to any other penalties under Chapter 155, and may have to be lowered or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my back yard fence be in Springfield?
Why is my front yard fence limited to four feet?
Can I build a taller fence around my tennis court?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
How Springfield compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Springfield to another location·View the Illinois fence regulations overview
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