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Fences

Applicable Codes:
2024 International Residential Code
City of Wheaton Fence Ordinance

Please submit the following information:

  1. Legal Plat of Survey at original scale, indicating fence location, fence height, gates, utility equipment (such as transformers), sewer manholes, etc.
  2. If a swimming pool is present:
    • A detail of the proposed fence that shows the fence height and the dimensions of the spacing of the intermediate rails.
    • Self-closing / self-latching gate specifications if the fence is protecting an inground pool.

Significant Code Requirements

Definitions

  • Yard - The portion of the lot which is not included within the front yard or corner side yard.
  • Front yard - The yard between the front lot line and the principal structure, with a line running generally parallel to the front lot line from the corner of the front elevation foundation closest to the side lot line.
  • Corner side yard - The portion of the lot adjoining a street not included in the front yard, and shall extend from the front yard to the rear lot line. The depth of the corner side yard shall be the lesser of 20 feet or the distance from the corner side lot line to the adjacent side wall of the principal structure.
  • Decorative fence - An open fence constructed of wrought iron or similar material, split rails or pickets, and not a shadow box, "board-on-board" type fence.
  • Open fence - A fence constructed so that at least 40 percent of the superficial area thereof consists of apertures.
  • Shadow box or board-on-board fence - A fence that is the same on both sides when mounted or installed between the vertical fence posts. A shadow box fence shall be considered open when such a fence has boards installed on alternating sides of horizontal members so that when viewed perpendicular, there is a one-quarter inch or greater separation between the alternating vertical boards.
  • Split rail fence - An underdressed fence rail split lengthwise from a log and set at either end into an upright post, not exceeding a height of four feet above grade.

Fence Heights

Interior Lot

  • Front Yard - Is allowed to have a maximum three-foot-tall (3’-0”) decorative open-type fence (wrought iron or similar material, picket, or split-rail).
  • Yard- Is allowed to have up to a 6-foot-tall solid or open fence in the yard.
    • Front Yard - Fences are allowed to be a maximum of three feet tall (3’-0”), decorative open-type fence (wrought iron or similar material, picket, or split-rail fence).
    • Yard - Fences are allowed to have up to a maximum six-foot tall (6’-0”) solid or open-type fence.

Corner Lot

  • Corner Side Yard Adjacent to LOW Volume Street - Is allowed to have up to a maximum four-foot-tall (4’-0”), open-style fence (40% of surface must be open). Fences located in a corner side yard that are directly adjacent to any driveway, neighboring front yard, or right-of-way (including alleyways) that intersects the street shall be a decorative fence.
  • Corner Side Yard Adjacent to HIGH Volume Street - Thirty-three (33) streets in Wheaton are designated with high volume traffic (Wheaton City Code Sec. 22-157). Corner side yard fences adjacent to a high-volume street MAY be allowed to have up to a six-foot tall (6’-0”), solid or open-type fence. Fences located in a corner side yard that are directly adjacent to any driveway, neighboring front yard, or right-of-way (including alleyways) that intersects the street shall be a maximum of four-foot tall (4’-0”) decorative fence. Please see the City of Wheaton fence ordinance for the list of High Volume Streets: https://library.municode.com/il/wheaton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH22BUBURE_ARTXIIFEFL_S22-150DE
  • Interior front yard - An area of the front yard in a corner lot which is bounded by (1) the front lot line, (2) the side lot line which is adjacent to a side or rear lot line of another corner lot, (3) a line running generally parallel to the front lot line from the side lot line to the closest corner of the front elevation foundation of the principal structure, and (4) a line running generally parallel to the side lot line from the same corner of the elevation foundation to the front lot line. Fences in the Interior Front Yard may be built to a maximum of 4’-0” above grade.
  • Front Yard - Fences are allowed to be a maximum of three feet tall (3’-0”), decorative open-type fence (wrought iron or similar material, picket, or split-rail fence).
  • Yard - Fences are allowed to have up to a maximum six-foot tall (6’-0”) solid or open-type fence.
Showing corner and interior lots with different yard configurations

Note: Fences for commercial sites may have to comply with development agreements that govern the development and use of the property. Please contact our Planning Department with questions.

General Requirements

  • Fences that are part of a barrier system for a swimming pool must comply with the barrier requirements found in the 2024 Swimming Pool and Spa Code:
    https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/ISPSC2024V2.0/chapter-3-general-compliance#ISPSC2024V2.0_Ch03_Sec305.
  • Structural elements (post/pillars, etc.) of the fence may exceed the maximum height restrictions by no more than six inches. Fences shall be installed so that the bottom of the fence is generally no more than two inches above the existing grade.
  • Light fixtures or ornamentation mounted to the top of the pillar shall be limited to a height of 18 inches and may be installed only at points of entry into the property.
  • Fences constructed along the rear lot line of a property that is adjacent to an existing or proposed right-of-way, except for corner lots, must include a gate providing access to the right-of-way, in order to allow the property owner access to maintain such right-of-way.
  • All fences shall be erected so that the finished side of the fence shall face outward from the property on which it is erected.
  • No chain link fence shall be permitted in any front yard or corner side yard, or, in the case of double frontage lots, the lot line adjacent to a high-volume street. No chain link fence shall be permitted in any rear or side yard which is adjacent to a front yard of an adjoining property for the distance the yards are adjacent.
  • No chain link fence shall contain strips or slats of any kind between or among the links.
  • No gate or fence is permitted across a driveway within the front or corner side yard in a residential district.
  • The gate shall not swing over a public walk.
  • The fence must be on the subject property and no closer than 12” to a public walk.
  • No Gate across the driveway in the front or side yard.

Inspections

  • All fences require a final inspection.
  • Masonry pillars or architectural features requiring designed foundations will require footing inspections once the forms are in place, but prior to pouring concrete.
  • Any electrical installations will require underground electrical, rough electrical, and final electrical inspections.

To Schedule an Inspection

  • Please call 630-260-2050 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please allow for a minimum of 24 hours' notice when scheduling inspections. Inspections must be scheduled no later than 3:00 p.m. the day before the desired inspection date. Inspection Scheduling Guideline.

To apply for a permit

Maintstar - h2.maintstar.co/wheaton/portal/#/

Contractor Registration Requirements

Webpage - www.wheaton.il.us/890/Contractor Registration Requirements

Contact Us

City of Wheaton Building & Code Enforcement Department
Address: 303 W. Wesley Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone Calls:
Questions regarding this information: 630-260-2050
Business hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fax: 630-260-2195

Revised 12/19/2025