Ask the city before you build. Springfield regulates every fence through its zoning ordinance, and the Building and Zoning Department in the Office of Public Works tells you whether your fence needs a permit. We check for your address before we quote.
Do I need a permit to build or replace a fence?
The Building and Zoning Department answers that for each address, and we confirm it before work starts. With or without a permit, the fence has to meet section 155.069 of the Springfield zoning ordinance. A like-for-like replacement should be treated as a new fence, so it has to meet today's rules, not the rules from when the old one went up. Chatham, Sherman, Rochester, Jerome, Leland Grove, Southern View and the other towns we serve each have their own office and their own rules.
How tall can my fence be? Is 6 feet allowed?
Yes, 6 feet is allowed at the side and rear, and it is the maximum. Section 155.069 of the zoning ordinance says no fence in a residential district may be taller than 6 feet above the ground. In a required front yard the limit is 4 feet, and the fence must be at least 50 percent open, so a solid privacy fence cannot go there. The same section bans barbed wire, metal spikes, sharp pointed materials and electrified fence on residential lots, and it requires chain link to be installed with the knuckled edge up.
How close to the property line can I build? Do I need a survey?
The zoning ordinance lists a fence that meets section 155.069 as allowed in a required yard, so it can normally stand near the line, on your own side. Corner lots are stricter. A fence that is less than 50 percent open has to follow the same setback as a building on the street side, and section 155.062 keeps the corner clear near the intersection. If the boundary is not marked, or you and the neighbor disagree, get a plot plan or a survey before any digging.
I live in a historic district. What can I build?
Check with the city before you choose a material. Springfield has locally designated historic districts and landmarks, and exterior changes there can need review by the city's Historic Sites Commission. Ask Building and Zoning whether your block is covered. A low picket or ornamental metal fence that suits the age of the house is the usual starting point.
Can my condo association or HOA restrict my fence?
Yes. Covenants can be tighter than the city on height, material and color, and some west side subdivisions do not allow certain fence types at all. Get the association's approval in writing first. Also look at your plat for drainage and utility easements, which are common along back lot lines in newer subdivisions.
We are adding a pool. What fence does code require?
A pool needs a barrier that meets the pool code your town has adopted. Illinois does not have one statewide rule for private home pools. The model codes most towns use call for a barrier at least 48 inches high, small limits on openings, and gates that close and latch on their own. The building department gives the exact figures and inspects the barrier, so plan the fence along with the pool.
The inspector failed my existing fence for the pool. Who brings it up to code?
A fence contractor does. The usual failures on an older fence are a gate that does not self-close, a gap under the fence, wide picket spacing, or something to climb on beside it. Send us the inspector's written notice and we will quote those items and nothing else.
My association only allows a 4-foot open fence, but I want privacy. What are my options?
Work inside the rule first. Shrubs or ornamental grasses planted behind a 4-foot open fence fill in within a few years. A free-standing screen by the patio may be treated differently from a fence on the lot line. Failing that, ask the board in writing for a variance. Check where the easements are too, because nothing should be built in a drainage swale.
Who calls 811 before digging, me or the contractor?
Whoever is doing the digging. In Illinois the one-call centre is JULIE, and state law (the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act) requires the request. JULIE says to submit it at least 2 days and no more than 10 days before you dig. Weekends, holidays and the day you submit do not count. A ticket is good for 25 days. The service is free, and the dig area has to be pre-marked or clearly described. We make the request for every fence we build. Utilities mark only the lines they own. Sprinkler pipe, a power line to a detached garage and yard lighting are private, and you need to show us where they are.
My contractor wants to skip the permit and reuse the old holes. What is the risk?
You carry the risk as the owner. If a permit was needed, the city can stop the work or order changes, and it writes to you, not to the contractor. Reusing old holes is its own problem. If the old posts heaved or leaned, the holes were too shallow, and new posts in them will do the same.
The city says my existing fence breaks the current rules. Can I just repair it?
Talk to Building and Zoning before paying for work. Cities commonly allow an older fence to be maintained but expect a rebuilt one to meet the current ordinance. In Springfield that means 6 feet at most, and 4 feet and half open in a front yard.
A real price needs a look at the yard. The on-site estimate is free. Call (217) 262-9381 or text us a photo of the fence line.