Bolingbrook, IL Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Sec. 54-252 sets the baseline rule for every fence project in the village: it is unlawful to construct, erect, or replace on private property any fence or wall, as the zoning code defines that term, without first obtaining a building permit. The section adds a distinct local wrinkle for planned subdivisions: where the lot is subject to a declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions, the village will not issue the permit unless the application is accompanied by a letter from the homeowners association or other authorized entity administering the declaration, confirming the fence complies with the declaration and has been duly authorized.

That means a resident in an HOA subdivision effectively needs two approvals, the village permit and the association's sign-off in writing, before starting work. The permit process folds into the same construction requirements applied to other accessory improvements: once built, Sec. 54-254 requires the fence's finished side face the street or neighboring property, be built to resist wind loads under the village building codes, use durable materials such as wood, chain link of at least 11-gauge wire, plastic, or PVC, with chicken wire and snow fencing barred as permanent construction materials, and have at least one-third of each post set into the ground.

Sec. 5 feet tall and more than half closed as a fence for regulatory purposes, meaning tall solid landscaping is not a way around the permit and design rules. Sec. 54-256 then makes the owner responsible for maintaining the fence in a safe, presentable, and structurally sound condition indefinitely after installation.