We fence business lots, truck yards, schools, churches and job sites across Chicago. Send the address and we check the permit path and the zoning before we price a design.
Commercial fence in Chicago starts with the permit. Any fence over 5 feet needs one, and the city's express permit for fences and trash enclosures always requires a licensed general contractor on the application. Fences above 6 feet need a property survey and a scaled site plan, and taller fences need zoning approval. We sort out which path your site falls under before we price a design, so the fence we quote is one the city can approve.
Security details are regulated too. The city's permit terms keep barbed and razor wire at least 7 feet above the ground and require it to be described in the application. Electrified fence is not covered by the fence permit at all. Many lots here back onto an alley with homes on the other side, so we often use taller steel picket, small-mesh chain link or solid panels in place of wire. Masonry walls and piers are a separate trade in Chicago and must be built by a licensed mason contractor.
Gates decide whether a site works in February. A slide gate on a ground track fills with ice and packed snow, so we usually recommend a cantilever gate that rides above the ground. Posts for gates and for tall fence go at least 42 inches down and are sized for lake wind, which the city's terms address for walls by requiring a design for 30 pounds per square foot. We also build dumpster enclosures. The city's express permit does not allow a roof on a trash enclosure.
Commercial & security fencing in Chicago: common questions
Does a commercial fence need a permit in Chicago?
Yes if it is more than 5 feet high, which most commercial fences are. Fences over 6 feet also need a survey and a site plan, and zoning approval is needed above that. We check the requirements for your lot first.
Can I put barbed wire on my lot fence?
Sometimes. Chicago's fence permit terms require barbed or razor wire to be at least 7 feet above the ground and to be listed in the permit application. Zoning for your district may add limits. We check before we include it in a quote.
Do you fence sites in the suburbs as well?
Yes. Each suburb has its own permit and height rules, and the utility locate goes through JULIE there, not 811 Chicago. We handle both.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We visit, measure and talk through options.
- Written quote: Clear pricing with material choices side by side.
- Permits & planning: We check local rules and help with permits before we dig.
- Install & clean-up: Our crew installs, cleans up and walks the finished fence with you.