Arlington Heights, IL Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Director of Building
- Barbed wire
- Prohibited village-wide
- Chain link
- Slatted chain link prohibited
- Metal fence gauge
- Nine gauge woven wire minimum
- M-1/M-2 exception
- Slatted fence allowed to enclose dumpsters
- Unsafe fences
- Director may order removal
Summary
In Arlington Heights, Illinois, no fence may go up without a permit from the Director of Building. The Village Code makes clear the Director grants the permit only when the fence meets the Zoning Code's material, height and location standards and is built in a structurally sound manner, so plans should match Chapter 28 before you dig a post hole.
No fence shall be erected without having secured a permit from the Director of Building, who shall grant the permit only if the proposed fence is in compliance with all the provisions of this Code and any amendment to it, and if the proposed fence will be erected in a structurally sound manner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 3 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
13-2 sets the materials that will and will not pass review: barbed wire fencing is prohibited outright, slatted chain link fence is prohibited, metal fences must be at least nine gauge woven wire or its equivalent, posts must be embedded in tamped earth or concrete to a depth that assures structural stability, and every fence must be erected with its finished side facing the adjoining property. An exception in the same section lets slatted fencing enclose garbage dumpsters or divide business properties in the M-1 and M-2 manufacturing districts, so long as it does not front a street or a residential lot.
Because Arlington Heights is a home-rule village in Cook County (with a small Lake County sliver), the Director of Building administers this permit village-wide rather than through the County. 13-3. Applicants should expect the Director to check the plat of survey against these material and structural standards as part of permit review.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a fence without first securing the Director of Building's permit is a Code violation subject to Village enforcement. Separately, under Section 6.13-5 the Director of Building may order any fence removed, permitted or not, if it becomes a hazard to public safety or obstructs the free flow of traffic. Noncompliant materials such as barbed wire or slatted chain link can also trigger a removal order even after installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small backyard fence in Arlington Heights?
Can I install a barbed wire fence around my Arlington Heights property?
What happens if my fence becomes unsafe after it is built?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington Heights
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Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle fence permit requirements.