Lake County, IN Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Wall material
- Brick, stone, concrete, masonry
- Opacity
- Required for screening walls
- Height (residential rear/side)
- 6 feet
- Grade change
- Measured from highest elevation
- Structural review
- Lake County building code
Summary
The Lake County UDO treats walls like fences for height and location, but requires walls to be opaque and built of durable masonry materials. Where grade changes, wall height is measured from the point of highest elevation.
Walls must be opaque and constructed of brick, stone, cast stone, formed concrete or similar durable, low-maintenance materials. ... If there is an elevation difference between an area or object being screened and the street or adjacent property, the height of fences and walls must be measured from the point of highest elevation.
Full Breakdown
Under the Lake County UDO, walls used to meet UDO requirements must be opaque and constructed of brick, stone, cast stone, formed concrete, or similar durable, low-maintenance materials. Walls follow the same district height caps as fences (6 feet interior side/rear and 3.5 feet in street yards in residential districts; 8 feet in business/industrial). For grade changes, the height of fences and walls is measured from the point of highest elevation between the screened area and the adjacent street or property. Walls in drainage easements must leave stormwater clearance. Structural retaining walls also fall under Lake County building code review; consult the Building Department for engineering and permit thresholds.
Violations & Fines
A wall exceeding height limits, obstructing a drainage easement, or built without required review is a nuisance per se; citation penalties reach $2,500 (first) and $7,500 (subsequent) under IC 36-1-3-8, plus possible injunction and removal costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can a screening wall be made of?
How is wall height measured on a slope?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Compare Lake County to another location·View the Indiana fence regulations overview
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