Fence or Trash Enclosure

Fence or Trash Enclosure

 

The Express Permit Program offers a streamlined way to obtain a building permit to install or replace several common types of fences and trash enclosures.

In many cases, the Express Permit Program can be used to obtain a permit to legalize a fence that was installed without the proper permit.

Eligibility Summary

Additional terms, conditions, and limitations may apply.

Eligible

  • Installing a front yard fence up to 4.5 feet (54 inches) tall
  • Installing a front yard fence up to 6 feet tall, so long as the fence is at least 80% open
  • Installing a backyard fence, up to 6 feet tall
  • Installing a fence up to 15 feet tall, with zoning approval
  • Legalizing a fence built without a required building permit

With drawings prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer:

  • Building a wall or fence using masonry (brick, stone, or concrete) construction
  • Building or replacing a trash enclosure

Not Eligible

  • Installing a fence or trash enclosure that violates any requirement of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance
  • Installing a fence or trash enclosure that is more than 15 feet tall
  • Installing a roofed trash enclosure structure
  • Excavating more than 5 feet below existing grade

When is a building permit not required?

Before beginning an Express Permit Program application for a fence, please review:

What Types of Work Do Not Require a Building Permit? : Fences

Important Considerations

Terms and conditions

See the full Terms and Conditions for Express Permit Program : Fence or Trash Enclosure for further limitations on this type of permit.

Before You Apply

You should gather required documents (if any), select required contractors and professionals (if any), and have their license or registration numbers before starting the online permit application. 

Required Documents

Most applications of this type do not require any documents to be uploaded.

Masonry fence or wall

If the scope of work includes a fence taller than 6 feet, you must upload:

  • Drawings prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer

Fence taller than 6 feet

If the scope of work includes a fence taller than 6 feet, you must upload:

  • Official survey of property
  • Site plan, drawn to scale

Trash enclosure

If the scope of work includes a trash enclosure, you must upload:

  • Official survey of property
  • Site plan, drawn to scale

The site plan may be drawn by any responsible person. It must be dimensioned and include other appropriate notes/labels. Official surveys must be prepared by an Illinois-licensed land surveyor and be no more than 5 years old.

Work on condominium property

If the work to be permitted is on property that is part of a condominium association (including work in an individually owned condominium unit) you must upload:

  • Condominium association approval letter

This letter must briefly describe the work to be performed (example: interior renovations in unit 9A) and be signed by an authorized representative of the condominium association, such a property manager or officer of the association.

Project owned by a government entity

If the work to be permitted in being undertaken by or for a local, state, or federal government entity (such as Chicago Public Schools) you must upload:

  • Government ownership or funding letter

If the government entity has a permit fee waiver ordinance, include a copy of that ordinance as part of this upload.

Project receiving construction funding from a government entity

If the work to be permitted or is receiving construction funding from a government entity (such as a Small Business Improvement Fund grant) you must upload:

  • Government ownership or funding letter

The letter must be from the government entity providing the construction funding.

Property owner as general contractor or property owner as mason contractor

If the property owner will be acting as general contractor or mason contractor, you must upload:

  • Owner as contractor form (Form 401)
  • Copy of government issued identification

The government issued identification must show that the property owner lives at the address where work will be performed.

Required Contractors

A licensed general contractor (any class) is always required. In some cases, an owner may act as general contractor.

For a masonry fence or trash enclosure, a licensed mason contractor (Class A or B) is required. In some cases, an owner may act as mason contractor.

Required Design Professionals

Drawings and/or calculations prepared by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer are required if:

  • A masonry fence or wall will be built

That architect or engineer must be identified in the Additional Applicants section of the application.

Ordinances and Rules

Chicago Construction Codes Administrative Provisions, Section 14A-12-1204.2 (Stand-alone permit fees)

2019 Chicago Building Code, Section 14B-31-3114 (Fences)

Chicago Zoning Ordinance, Section 17-11-0202-C (Vehicular use areas—Fencing)

Chicago Zoning Ordinance, Section 17-11-0300 (Trash storage area screening)

Chicago Zoning Ordinance, Section 17-17-0309 (Features allowed to encroach in required setbacks)