Do I Need a Permit to Build a Fence in Joliet, IL?

Q: How do I apply for a fence permit in Joliet?

Email completed application forms + plat of survey (fence placement marked) + fence specs to permitapplication@joliet.gov, or drop at City Hall drop box. After paying, manually email permitapplication@joliet.gov with your application reference number. No in-person counter issuance.

Q: Can I do my own fence installation and pull the permit myself in Joliet?

For self-performed work, homeowners may be able to pull their own permit. Call (815) 724-4070 to confirm. For any contracted fence installation, the contractor must pull the permit per Section 8-36.

Q: How long does a Joliet fence permit take?

Approximately 10 business days — two weeks under normal conditions. Faster than deck permits (15 days) but still requires advance planning. Submit early in spring fence season.

Joliet fence permits work the same as the city’s other residential permits: no over-the-counter issuance, plat of survey required for every application, and if a contractor does the work, the contractor must pull the permit. Fence permits process in approximately 10 business days — faster than decks, but still requiring advance planning.

Research by DoINeedAPermit.org Updated April 2026 Sources: Joliet Fence Permit, Joliet Building Division

Yes — Permit Required

A fence permit is required in Joliet before any fence installation. Email application to permitapplication@joliet.gov or use the City Hall drop box. Plat of survey with proposed fence placement marked is required. 10-business-day processing.

Before installing any fence in Joliet, requirements must be met and an application completed. Submit completed permit application forms with plat of survey (fence placement marked), fence specifications, and contractor registration information. Email to permitapplication@joliet.gov or drop at City Hall drop box, 150 W. Jefferson St. No in-person over-the-counter permit issuance. Per Section 8-36, contractor must pull permit if contractor performs the work. ComEd transformer clearance: 10 ft on the open end, 5 ft other sides; ComEd pedestal: 5 ft on all sides including open end. Zoning questions: (815) 724-4055 or zoning@joliet.gov. Building Division: (815) 724-4070.

Every project and property is different — check yours:

Joliet IL fence permit rules — the basics

Joliet's fence permit process mirrors the city's overall permit workflow: applications are submitted by email to permitapplication@joliet.gov or dropped at the Building Department drop box at Joliet City Hall (150 W. Jefferson Street). Building permits will not be issued in-person over the counter — the email/drop-box system is the only submission method. After payment is processed, the applicant must email the Building Department at permitapplication@joliet.gov with the application reference number and property address, because the payment system is not automated and the Building Department does not receive automatic payment notifications.

Per Section 8-36 of the Joliet Code of Ordinances, if a contractor is performing the fence installation, the contractor must pull the permit. The contractor must have current registration with the City of Joliet on file prior to permit issuance. Before signing any fence installation contract, confirm the contractor is currently registered with Joliet by calling the Building Division at (815) 724-4070. An unregistered contractor cannot legally pull a permit in Joliet, which means the fence work cannot legally proceed until registration is completed. This requirement catches out-of-area or first-time Joliet fence contractors who may be licensed in their home county but not registered with the City.

A plat of survey is required for all Joliet fence permit applications — the same requirement as for decks and other exterior structures. The plat of survey must have the proposed fence placement marked on it clearly. The Planning Division reviews the marked plat for zoning setback compliance, easement clearance, and sight-line restrictions. For properties in Joliet's numerous flood-prone areas near the Des Plaines River and other waterways, drainage easements on the plat of survey may significantly limit where a fence can be placed. Review the plat carefully before designing the fence layout — discovering a drainage easement mid-project is a common and costly problem in Joliet.

ComEd provides electricity to most Joliet residential properties (unlike Naperville, which has its own municipal utility). Joliet's fence permit page includes specific ComEd utility infrastructure clearance requirements: for transformers, a 10-foot clearance must be maintained on the open end (where the pad lock is) and 5 feet on all other sides; for pedestals, 5 feet of clearance must be maintained on all sides including the open end. If your property has a ComEd transformer pad or pedestal near the fence line, these clearances are strictly enforced. If you have questions about ComEd equipment locations or easements on your property, contact the Building Division at (815) 724-4070 before finalizing fence placement near any utility infrastructure.

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Three Joliet fence scenarios

Scenario A

Standard 6-foot privacy fence in a Joliet subdivision — plat of survey research first

A homeowner in a 1995 Joliet subdivision south of Route 30 wants to install a 6-foot cedar privacy fence enclosing the side and rear yards. The first step is locating the plat of survey from home purchase closing papers and reviewing it for drainage easements, utility easements, and lot line locations. Many Joliet subdivision lots have rear drainage easements 10–15 feet wide along the rear property line — the fence cannot be placed in this easement zone. If the plat shows a drainage easement along the rear lot line, the fence must be placed at the front edge of the easement, potentially limiting the enclosed yard area. The homeowner marks the proposed fence placement on a copy of the plat, confirming it stays outside all easements and at least at the property line. The fence contractor (registered with Joliet Building Division) completes the permit application forms, attaches the marked plat and fence specifications, and emails the package to permitapplication@joliet.gov. Processing time: approximately 10 business days. After permit issuance and payment confirmation (manually emailed by the applicant), the contractor can begin work. Post installation in Illinois clay soils: set posts to at least 36–42 inches in concrete for a 6-foot fence to resist frost heave and wind loading. Total project cost for 6-foot cedar privacy fence in Joliet: $4,000–$10,000 depending on linear footage and materials.

Permit required; plat of survey required; drainage easement review critical; contractor must pull permit; 10-business-day processing; post depth 36–42 inches; project cost $4,000–$10,000

Scenario B

Fence near a ComEd transformer — utility clearance requirements in Joliet

A homeowner wants to fence the side yard, but there's a ComEd pad-mounted transformer in the corner of the lot near the side property line. Joliet's fence permit rules include specific clearance requirements for ComEd infrastructure: a 10-foot clearance must be maintained on the open end of the transformer (where the pad lock is located, which is the service access side) and 5 feet on all other sides. The homeowner must determine which side of the transformer is the open/access side before finalizing fence placement. A fence design that doesn't account for these clearances will not receive a permit. The homeowner contacts the Building Division at (815) 724-4070 and the reference to ComEd equipment on the fence permit page to identify the transformer's access orientation. If the transformer placement makes it impossible to maintain required clearances with the desired fence configuration, options include: modifying the fence alignment to route around the clearance zone; installing a section of removable fence or a gate in front of the access side; or consulting ComEd about possible transformer relocation (typically not feasible for minor residential projects). The Building Division can advise on acceptable fence configurations near utility infrastructure before the permit application is submitted.

Permit required; 10-ft clearance on transformer open end, 5-ft other sides; contact Building Division (815) 724-4070 before designing fence near utility infrastructure; removable fence section may be required

Scenario C

Corner lot fence in Joliet — sight-line restrictions at intersections

A homeowner on a corner lot in east Joliet wants to install a 6-foot privacy fence along both the front yard and the corner side yard. Joliet, like most Illinois municipalities, has sight-obstruction restrictions at street intersections to maintain driver visibility. The fence permit page directs zoning questions to (815) 724-4055 or zoning@joliet.gov. Before designing any corner lot fence, the homeowner contacts the Zoning Department to confirm the sight-line triangle requirements at the specific intersection — the restricted zone within which fence height is limited (typically 2.5–3 feet maximum) to maintain visibility. In Joliet's grid-style neighborhoods, many corner lots are at standard 90-degree intersections with well-established sight-line requirements. The Planning Division reviews the marked plat of survey as part of the permit application to confirm the fence doesn't violate sight-obstruction rules. For corner lots along major arterials, additional restrictions may apply. The Zoning Department is the right first call for any corner lot fence planning in Joliet — (815) 724-4055 or zoning@joliet.gov — before investing in fence design or ordering materials.

Permit required; sight-obstruction restrictions apply at intersections; call Zoning (815) 724-4055 before designing corner lot fence; height restricted in sight-line triangle (typically 2.5–3 ft max)

Fence variable	How it affects your Joliet IL permit
Permit required (all fences)	Permit required before any fence installation. Email to permitapplication@joliet.gov or City Hall drop box. No in-person counter issuance. 10-business-day processing. Manually email payment confirmation after paying.
Contractor must pull permit	Per Section 8-36, if a contractor does the work, the contractor must pull the permit. Contractor must have current Joliet registration. Homeowner cannot pull permit for contracted fence work.
Plat of survey required	Required for every fence application. Mark proposed fence placement on a copy of the plat. Planning Division reviews for setback compliance, easement clearance, and sight-line restrictions. Review for drainage easements before designing.
ComEd utility clearances	Transformers: 10-ft clearance on open end (where pad lock is), 5 ft other sides. Pedestals: 5 ft clearance on all sides. Contact Building Division (815) 724-4070 if fence location is near any ComEd infrastructure.
Corner lot sight-obstruction restrictions	Sight-line triangle height restrictions apply at intersections. Call Zoning (815) 724-4055 or zoning@joliet.gov before designing any corner lot fence. Height typically limited to 2.5–3 feet in restricted zone.
Drainage easements (flood-prone Joliet lots)	Many Joliet lots have rear drainage easements 10–15 feet wide. Fences cannot be placed in these easements. Review plat of survey for all easements before finalizing fence design — this is the most common fence design mistake in Joliet.

Review your plat of survey for drainage easements before designing your Joliet fence — it's required for the application anyway.

Plat of survey review. ComEd clearance requirements. Corner lot sight-line restrictions. Contractor registration verification.

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Common questions about Joliet IL fence permits

How do I apply for a fence permit in Joliet?

Download the residential fence permit application forms from joliet.gov/government/departments/community-development/building-inspectional-services-division/building-permit-forms, complete them fully, and attach your plat of survey with the fence placement marked plus fence specifications. Email the complete package to permitapplication@joliet.gov or drop it at the permit drop box in the Community Development lobby at Joliet City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson Street. After payment: the payment system is not automated — after paying online, manually email permitapplication@joliet.gov with your application reference number and address to notify the Building Department. Building permits will not be issued in-person over the counter.

Can I do my own fence installation and pull the permit myself in Joliet?

For fence work a homeowner personally performs without hiring a contractor, the homeowner should be able to apply for the permit in their own name — the Section 8-36 contractor-must-pull requirement applies when a contractor is performing the work. Contact the Building Division at (815) 724-4070 to confirm the homeowner self-installation permit path for your specific situation. For any contracted fence installation, the contractor must pull the permit, must have current Joliet registration, and must be the permit applicant of record.

How long does a Joliet fence permit take to process?

The estimated processing time for fence permits in Joliet is approximately 10 business days — two weeks under normal workload conditions. This is faster than decks (15 business days) but still requires advance planning. Processing times are estimates and can vary; during peak spring fence season (April–June), volume may extend timelines. Submit early in the season. After the permit is issued, the Building Department emails or mails the permit — note in your submission which delivery method you prefer.

What fence height is allowed in Joliet?

Specific fence height limits in Joliet residential zones are governed by the zoning ordinance. For questions about fence heights, setbacks, and placement rules for your specific property's zone district, contact the Zoning Department at (815) 724-4055 or zoning@joliet.gov. The fence permit page notes that the location and size of proposed fences are reviewed by the Planning Division, and zoning questions should be directed to the Zoning Department before submitting the permit application. Don't assume a standard height limit applies to your lot — confirm with Zoning first.

Joliet Building & Inspectional Services Division City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432
Building: (815) 724-4070 · Inspections: M–F 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Zoning: (815) 724-4055 · zoning@joliet.gov
Email permits: permitapplication@joliet.gov
Drop box: Community Development lobby, City Hall
No in-person over-the-counter permit issuance

General guidance based on City of Joliet Building & Inspectional Services Division sources as of April 2026. For a personalized report, use our permit research tool.