St. Clair County, IL Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Zoning Ordinance Sec. 40-5-5(B) is the county's only fence-material restriction: it prohibits any barbed wire strung below ten feet above ground level, any other "sharp pointed fence," and any electrically charged fence anywhere in unincorporated St. Clair County, with one carve-out. The exception applies only in districts zoned "A" Agricultural Industry (40-acre minimum lot) and "RR-1"/"RR-3" Rural Residential (15-acre minimum lot) under Section 40-3-1, and even there the fence must "not constitute undue hazard" to be lawful; a barbed wire or electric fence bordering a residential subdivision or public sidewalk in one of those districts can still be cited if it creates a hazard.

The same Section 40-5-5 layers on the county's other fence standards: subsection (A) keeps any fence over two feet out of the corner-lot visibility triangle, and subsection (D) lets a fence run along any lot line up to six feet before it must meet the district's minimum yard setback. A property owner who believes an exemption should apply, or who wants to install a barbed-top security fence around commercial equipment outside the exempt districts, must petition the Zoning Board of Appeals; a use the code does not exempt requires either a text amendment ($500 filing fee) or a variance hearing under Article XI. The restriction is part of the county's Zoning Code, current edition dated May 30, 2023.