Your home is your castle, right? And if you want to surround that castle with a 20-foot fence, or a wall, or a moat full of alligators, that’s your prerogative, right? Well, not exactly. Just about everywhere, there are rules and regulations that limit the construction of fencing, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, there are some very good reasons why you can’t build fences above a certain height.

So what’s the right height for a fence? Most places, artificial fences can only be four feet tall in front yards, and six feet tall in back yards. This varies, depending on your city, county, or subdivision regulations. Sometimes, height restrictions apply to natural barriers as well, like fences or rows of trees, but they’re usually a little less restrictive: typically five to eight feet. In some circumstances, you can apply for a variance and receive a one-time exception to the law. Additionally, if the fence was there before the rule, it can typically stay there.

Why does anyone care about the height of someone else’s fence? To begin with, just because you build a fence doesn’t mean you’re the only one it impacts. A fence that’s too high can disrupt your neighbors’ daily lives by blocking light and airflow to their homes and yards. It can interfere with the success of their gardening or block their view.

What’s more, a fence that obstructs a driver’s view of oncoming traffic, it can be a true safety hazard. So even though you might want to build a big fence to block your view of a busy road, the authorities will have to take into account how your fence will affect people driving on the road. That’s one reason front yard fences must be lower. Interfering with someone’s view of the road or, worse, children playing in or near the road could have disastrous consequences.

So what do you do if your neighbor has put up a fence that’s bothering you? If your neighbor’s fence is just unsightly, you may not have any recourse. If it’s too tall, built of prohibited material, dangerous, or ill-maintained, you can make a complaint to the subdivision’s homeowners association or to the city. It’s nice, though, to talk to your neighbor first. It’s possible that the neighbor was unaware of the regulations, and may be willing to come to an agreement with you about modifying the fence. Just make sure that when it comes time for you to put up a new fence, you acquaint yourself with the applicable rules before you get started.

If you’re ready for your new fence, call Paramount Fence for professional installation. At Paramount, we’ve been in business for over ten years, but our combined experience in the fence industry spans more than half a century! We’re a full-service fence sales and fence installation business in the Chicagoland area, and we’re dedicated to providing creative and affordable solutions that address our clients’ needs and fulfill their requests. Our staff offers exceptional customer service, striving to exceed your expectations throughout the fence buying and fence installation process. We provide high-quality, beautiful fences, and our reputation for excellence is well-established. Paramount Fence is a member of the American Fence Association and a registered member of the Better Business Bureau. For more information on how we can help you find the right fence to meet your needs, call us at 630-239-2714 or contact us through our website.