Park Forest — Ch. 18 Art. III Housing § 18-354
Existing nonconforming fences
Operative Text
Any fence, decorative fence or living fence located in a yard of residential property as of October 1, 1988 which does not conform to subsections 18-352 (a) and (b) shall not be replaced, but shall be permitted to stand until such time such fence, decorative fence or living fence does not comply with the requirements of section 18-290 . All other nonconforming fences, decorative fences or living fences pursuant to subsections 18-352 (c) and (d) shall be removed or altered in such a way as to bring such fence, decorative fence or living fence into compliance, upon notice from the building commissioner.
Park Forest § 18-354 establishes a grandfather rule for certain fences on residential property. Fences that were already in place as of October 1, 1988 and do not meet the standards in § 18-352(a) and (b) may remain standing, but cannot be replaced if they fall into disrepair or are removed. However, fences that fail to conform to the requirements of § 18-352(c) and (d) receive no such protection and must be brought into compliance or removed when the building commissioner issues a notice.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 18-354, property owners managing residential fences should understand that pre-October 1, 1988 nonconforming fences covered by § 18-352(a) and (b) may remain in place but cannot be replaced once taken down or destroyed. Fences that fall outside that grandfather protection — those nonconforming under § 18-352(c) and (d) — must be altered or removed upon receiving notice from the building commissioner. Operators generally document the age and condition of existing fences to establish eligibility for grandfathered status and to respond promptly to any compliance notices.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 18-354 can be relevant to tenants when a fence on their rental property is the subject of a compliance notice or a dispute about its continued presence. If a building commissioner issues a notice requiring fence removal or alteration under § 18-352(c) or (d), tenants may want to understand how that affects their use of outdoor spaces. Tenants who have questions about whether a fence is lawfully grandfathered or subject to removal can consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the relevant sections of the Park Forest municipal code.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation