Evanston, IL Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted materials
- Wood, wrought iron, masonry, chain link, PVC
- Wood-polymer requirement
- At least 50% recycled wood fiber
- Chain link
- Only on designated Type 1 streets
- Industrial districts
- Also allow barbed wire, cinder block
- Governing section
- Zoning Code § 6-4-6-7(F)
Summary
Evanston limits residential and mixed-use fences to six named materials, wood, recycled-content wood-polymer lumber, wrought iron, masonry, restricted chain link, and ASTM-compliant PVC, with no other material allowed under the zoning ordinance.
1.Permitted Fence Materials: The permitted materials for fences accessory to the uses listed in this Subsection (F) are:(a)Wood;(b)Wood polymer lumber, provided said material consists of at least fifty percent (50%) postconsumer and/or postindustrial wood fiber;(c)Wrought iron;(d)Masonry or stucco wall;(e)Chainlink, provided said material shall only be permitted within the area between a street lot line and three (3) feet behind any street-facing facade of the principal building...and(f)PVC, provided...
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
Evanston's zoning code caps residential and mixed-use fences (R, B, C, D, T, U, and related districts) to wood, wood-polymer lumber with at least 50% recycled wood fiber, wrought iron, masonry or stucco, chain link (only in a narrow street-facing strip on a City Council-designated Type 1 street), and ASTM F964-94-compliant PVC. Industrial districts (I1, I2, I3) get a broader list: the same materials plus barbed wire above six feet in side or rear yards, and unfinished concrete or cinder block walls. No fence anywhere in the city may use any other material, and every fence needs a certificate of zoning compliance before installation.
Violations & Fines
Fencing built from an unlisted material is a zoning violation; the Zoning Administrator can order removal or correction, with fines of $100 to $1,000 per day for continued noncompliance under City Code § 6-3-10-5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a chain-link fence in my Evanston front yard?
What fence materials are not allowed in Evanston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
Compare Evanston to another location·View the Illinois fence regulations overview
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle material restrictions.