Chicago Municipal Code 13-96-160 prohibits barbed wire less than 8 feet above the ground, though it is allowed above 6 feet when wholly on or over private property. The Code classifies fences as screen, solid, combustible, or noncombustible, which sets the allowable height.
Fence materials in Chicago are regulated by the Building Code's miscellaneous-structures provisions. Section 13-96-130 classifies fences by construction: a 'screen fence' has at least 50% regularly distributed open apertures, a 'solid fence' has less than 50% apertures, and any fence not built entirely of noncombustible materials is a 'combustible fence.' These classes drive the height limits in Section 13-96-140 (noncombustible fences are allowed greater height). Section 13-96-160 governs barbed wire: it is unlawful to install barbed wire less than 8 feet above the ground, but barbed wire above 6 feet is permitted when wholly on or over private property. Section 13-96-150 requires every fence to be designed and constructed to resist a horizontal wind pressure of at least 30 pounds per square foot. The Zoning Ordinance separately rates fences by opacity (no more than 20% opaque versus more than 20% opaque or solid) to determine setback encroachment height under Section 17-17-0309.
Installing barbed wire below the 8-foot threshold, or a fence that fails the wind-load standard, violates the Building Code and is enforced by the Department of Buildings through administrative hearings, daily fines, and orders to correct or remove. Section 13-12-040 sets the general penalty range for Building Code violations.
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