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Lake County · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Lake County

County code limits front yard fences to 4 feet on interior lots and 3 feet on corner lots; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

Key points

  • Fence height: County code limits front yard fences to 4 feet on interior lots and 3 feet on corner lots; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

Each rule below links to the section of the Lake County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Lake County's code says

Lake County code What Lake County's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No more than 3 feet tall; up to 4 feet if the part above 3 feet is see-through.
    Applies: Front yard of a corner lot; the see-through rule covers the part within 50 feet of the corner property line.
    § 42.11 · code text
    Fences and walls in excess of three (3) feet in height but not higher than four (4) feet may occupy any required front yard of a corner lot, provided that the portion of the fence exceeding three (3) feet that is located within: 1) fifty (50) feet of the corner property line(s) or extended corner property line(s), or 2) from the edge of a prescriptive right of way, whichever provides the most unobstructed vision, is constructed of wire mesh, chain link or other material allowing unobstructed visibility.
Front yard height
  • Fences, walls and hedges can be no more than 4 feet tall.
    Applies: In the required front yard of an interior lot.
    § 42.11 · code text
    Fences, walls, and hedges not exceeding four (4) feet in height may be placed in the required front yard (setback) of an interior lot.
  • Fences, walls and hedges can be up to 6 feet tall with a minor use permit.
    Applies: In the required front yard, if the review authority makes the required findings.
    § 42.11 · code text
    Fences, walls, and hedges exceeding four (4) feet but six (6) feet or less in height may be approved in the required front yard area upon first securing a minor use permit in each case if the review authority makes the following additional findings:
Side and rear yard height
  • Fences, walls or hedges can be no more than 6 feet tall.
    Applies: In the required side or rear yard of an interior or corner lot.
    § 42.11 · code text
    A maximum six (6) foot high fence, wall or hedge may be located within the required side or rear yard (setback) of an interior lot or corner lot.
  • Fences, walls and hedges can be over 6 feet tall with a minor use permit.
    Applies: Required side or rear yard of an interior lot, or the interior side of a corner lot.
    § 42.11 · code text
    Fences, walls and hedges exceeding six (6) feet in height may be permitted in the required side or rear yard (setback) of an interior lot, or interior side of a corner lot, subject to the approval of a minor use permit in each case.
Permit
  • A minor use permit is required for fences, walls and hedges over 4 feet and up to 6 feet.
    Applies: In the required front yard.
    § 42.11 · code text
    Fences, walls, and hedges exceeding four (4) feet but six (6) feet or less in height may be approved in the required front yard area upon first securing a minor use permit in each case if the review authority makes the following additional findings:
  • A minor use permit is required for fences, walls and hedges over 6 feet.
    Applies: Required side or rear yard of an interior lot, or the interior side of a corner lot.
    § 42.11 · code text
    Fences, walls and hedges exceeding six (6) feet in height may be permitted in the required side or rear yard (setback) of an interior lot, or interior side of a corner lot, subject to the approval of a minor use permit in each case.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Lake County?

County code limits front yard fences to 4 feet on interior lots and 3 feet on corner lots; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

General information, not legal advice.

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