Lake County, IL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 6 feet (director may allow more)
- Property line setback
- 4 feet minimum
- Visibility triangles
- retaining walls prohibited
- Applies to
- unincorporated Lake County only
Summary
Retaining walls in unincorporated Lake County must sit at least 4 feet from property lines and stay under 6 feet tall without director approval.
Retaining walls (i.e., walls that support fill) shall be set back a minimum of four feet from all property lines unless site conditions warrant a lesser setback, in which case, the Planning, Building and Development Director shall be authorized to allow a reduced setback. Retaining walls shall not be permitted within required visibility triangles (see § 151.172). The maximum height of retaining walls shall be six feet. If site conditions warrant, the Planning, Building and Development Director may allow the height of a retaining wall to be greater than six feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 26-0618, passed 6-9-2026 | State legislation current through ILCS Pamphlet 2025 #5).
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Lake County caps retaining wall height at six feet under County Code § 151.113(L)(2); the Planning, Building and Development Director can approve a taller wall if site conditions warrant it. Walls need a minimum four-foot setback from all property lines, though the Director may allow a smaller setback if conditions call for it. No retaining wall may sit inside a required visibility triangle at intersections. This applies only outside incorporated cities and villages; Waukegan, North Chicago, Highland Park, Gurnee, Libertyville and other municipalities set their own retaining wall rules.
Violations & Fines
Building beyond 6 feet or inside the 4-foot setback without Director sign-off is a zoning violation, enforceable through the Planning, Building and Development Department's permit and code enforcement process, including stop-work orders and required removal or modification of the wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a retaining wall be in unincorporated Lake County?
How far must a retaining wall be from the property line?
Does this rule apply inside Waukegan or Gurnee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Illinois fence regulations overview
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