[8-2-1982]
The Building Commissioner or Acting Building Commissioner
of the Village of Thornton.
Any structure, partition or enclosure, of wood, iron, metal
or other material, enclosing or dividing a piece of land. For the
purposes of this section, a fence shall not include naturally growing
shrubs, bushes and other foliage.
Land occupied or to be occupied by a use, building or a unit
group of buildings and accessory buildings and uses, together with
such yards, open spaces, lot width and area and having its principal
frontage on a street.
A lot situated at the intersection of two or more streets
or bounded on two or more adjacent sides by street lines.
An area extending across the full width of the lot between
the side lot lines, the depth of which is the minimum horizontal distance
from the front line of the lot to the nearest line of the main building.
An area extending across the full width of the lot between
the main building and the rear lot line; depth of the required rear
yard to be measured horizontally from the nearest point of the rear
lot line to the nearest part of the main building.
An area between a main building and the side lot line, extending
from the front yard to the rear yard; width of the required side yard
to be measured horizontally from the nearest point of the side yard
lot line to the nearest part of the main building.
[8-2-1982; amended 1992]
A.
Permit Required. It is unlawful for any person to erect any fence
in the Village without obtaining a permit therefor.
B.
Application for Permit. An application for the permit required by
the preceding section, accompanied by a sketch showing the adjoining
lot lines, existing fences and existing buildings, shall be made to
the Village Clerk and shall state the matters specified in this chapter.
The Village Clerk shall refer the application and sketch to the Building
Commissioner. The Building Commissioner shall examine the application
and sketch and premises in question and other premises in the immediate
vicinity to determine whether or not the fence intended to be erected
conforms to the standards and limitations set forth in the Village
Code.
C.
Permit Fee. The fee for a permit to construct or erect a fence shall
be $10.
Fences erected or constructed in the Village shall conform to
the following standards:
A.
All fences constructed in the Village may be erected to a height
not to exceed six feet from normal grade level.
B.
No barbed wire or barbed-wire fences shall be allowed on private
property in residential zones or on lots in any zone being used for
single- or multiple-family dwelling purposes. No barbed wire or barbed-wire
fences shall be allowed on private property in business or industrial
zones where the property lines of such property abut lots or parcels
zoned or being used for single- or multiple-family purposes.
C.
No fence shall be constructed of material obviously intended to inflict
great bodily harm should a person or animal attempt to climb or scale
it. Such material includes, but is not limited to, electrically charged
wires or other electrical conduit, broken glass, razor blades, and
sharp or ragged metal spikes or spears.
D.
All fences shall be constructed in conformity with the wind, stress,
foundation, structural and other requirements of the building codes
and laws of the Village.
E.
All fences shall be maintained in good, structurally sound repair
and in a neat, clean, presentable and attractive condition. If, on
inspection by the Building Commissioner, any fence, in his determination,
does not meet the requirements of this chapter, he shall order the
owner or occupant of the premises, by registered or certified mail,
to make the necessary repairs or improvements within 30 days. Should
the owner or occupant of the premises fail to make repairs or improvements
as directed, the Building Commissioner shall cause a complaint to
be issued and processed against said owner or occupant for violation
thereof in accordance with the rules of the Circuit Court of Cook
County, Illinois.
F.
No fence, nor anything similar, shall be located on any lot nearer
to the front lot line than the building setback line applicable to
said lot and adjoining lots.
G.
No fence, nor anything similar, shall be located on a corner lot
within the required front or side yard space on the street sides of
said lot.
H.
No fence, nor anything similar, shall be erected or located within
30 feet of a street intersection.
I.
If a fence is erected to include a utility easement, such fence may
be required to be removed by either the utility company involved or
the Village, for the purpose of installing, maintaining or repairing
a utility, without any responsibility on the part of either the utility
company or the Village for damages or replacement.
J.
In cases where the Building Commissioner is in doubt on any special
application as to the conformity with the Village ordinance, such
application shall be referred to the Zoning Board of Appeals to be
heard as in cases of variances.
K.
This chapter shall not require the removal of fences that were in
conformity with the prior ordinance and in existence on the date of
the adoption hereof.
L.
In cases where fences are inspected by a Village official or employee,
such inspection shall not be a guarantee that the fence is properly
located on or adjacent to lot lines.
M.
Nothing herein contained shall abrogate fencing requirements as may
be contained in other ordinances of the Village.
N.
Fences shall be constructed so that the structural elements or support
are located on the side of the fence facing towards the property on
which the fence is constructed.
O.
Post holes shall be at least six inches in diameter. Post holes for
fences over four feet in height shall be a minimum of 42 inches deep.
Post holes for fences four feet or less in height shall be a minimum
of 36 inches deep.
P.
All fences shall be placed wholly upon the applicant's property
unless an attachment is made to an existing fence. When an attachment
is made to an existing fence not owned by the applicant, written consent
of the fence owner must be obtained. All fences shall be located so
that both sides can be maintained.
