Fencing · Process
When to put a fence in, and how long it takes to get one
Xcel Outdoor Living installs fences across the Illinois Valley out of Spring Valley, Illinois, serving Bureau, LaSalle, Putnam, Marshall, and Lee counties, and our fence season usually runs until about mid-November before picking back up in spring once the ground and the weather allow.
In the towns where we build most, a fence permit has usually taken us three to five business days in Ottawa and about a week in Peru, LaSalle and Spring Valley, and since we are usually booking a few weeks out, the earlier you call, the better your pick of dates.
About 5 minutes to read
The fence season here
Our fence installs usually run until about mid-November, when the season turns: the temperature is dropping, the ground is less predictable, and our crew is moving on to holiday lighting. We start again in spring when the ground and the weather allow, which is a call made on conditions rather than a date on the calendar, so some years it comes earlier than others.
Cold matters most for vinyl, because it gets stiffer as the temperature drops and is less forgiving to work with, so we put it in when conditions are right rather than forcing it. Aluminum, chain-link and wood are less fussy about the air, although every material needs ground that can be dug, and our guide to fence materials in Illinois winters covers how each one handles the cold.
Winter is still a good time to plan: the walkthrough, the number and the paperwork can all be done while the ground is frozen, leaving the fence ready to go in when the season opens.
From the first call to the first post
- The walkthrough. We come out, walk the line with you and read the ground for rock while we are there, and it is free.
- The number. One number, worked out after the visit with the rock and the permit fee already in it, so the number you were given is the number you pay.
- The permit. We file it with your village or county, and where a town wants the property owner's signature on the application, that is the one thing that comes back to you.
- The JULIE locate. We file the request at least three days before digging, as JULIE asks, and schedule the build around the marks.
- The build. If there is an old fence, we take it down and haul it away, you hear from us as the job moves along, and we clean up before we leave.
How long permits have taken in the towns where we build most
Permit time varies by town and often sets the start date, so these are the turnarounds we have seen on our own jobs.
- OttawaFiled online with the property details and a drawing of the fence layout and its measurements, and usually back in three to five business days, with the inspector following up.
- PeruThe fence details and a layout drawing go to the city for the inspector's review, which has taken about a week in our experience even though the city publishes two weeks.
- LaSalleBuilt around the layout diagram the city code asks for, with the inspector involved, and about a week.
- Spring ValleyThe details and a layout drawing go to the city for the inspector's review, which takes about a week.
Every other town sets its own process and a few publish nothing at all, so our fence permit guide explains how to find out what yours asks for, and each town page lists what we found in that town's own code.
What can add time, and how to get ahead of it
Most fences go from walkthrough to finished without a hitch; however, a few things can stretch the timeline, and each one is easier to handle early:
- An uncertain property line. We can readily find the property pins on about one job in five, and when the line is unclear the answer may be a survey, which is the step most likely to add weeks. If you already have one, have it ready for the walkthrough, and our property line guide covers what counts as proof.
- A corner lot. Ottawa, for one, judges a corner fence by whether it blocks the view of drivers and people walking rather than by a fixed number, so on an Ottawa corner lot we check with the town before anything is ordered.
- The weather. Rain and cold move dig days, and we would rather wait a day than set a post in the wrong conditions.
- The time of year you call. The calendar fills as the season goes on, and late fall runs up against mid-November.
When to call
Call as soon as you know you want a fence, because the walkthrough is free and commits you to nothing, and getting it done early puts three steps behind you before your dates come up: the number, the permit and the locate. A permit does have a shelf life, so we time the filing to the build rather than filing months ahead, and the permit guide covers how long one stays good.
Related questions
What is the best time of year to put in a fence in Illinois?
Any time in our season works for the fence itself, and that season usually runs until about mid-November; what changes through the year is how far out the calendar is booked and how cold it gets. Calling in late winter or early spring gets the walkthrough and the permit done before the ground is ready, so your fence can go in early.
Can you install a fence in winter?
Our fence installs usually stop around mid-November, when our crew moves on to holiday lighting, and start again once the ground and the weather allow rather than on a set date. Vinyl is less forgiving in the cold, so we put it in when conditions are right.
How long does a fence permit take?
It depends on the town. On our jobs it has usually taken three to five business days in Ottawa, where the permit goes in online, and about a week in Peru, LaSalle and Spring Valley, even though Peru publishes two weeks for its review. We file the permit for you, and the fee is inside the number you were quoted.
How far out are you booking?
Usually a few weeks, although it moves with the season and the weather, so the walkthrough is the place to get a real answer for your fence.
Who calls JULIE before you dig?
We do. JULIE, the Illinois 811 one-call service, asks for a locate request at least three days before digging, so we file it and schedule the build around the marks once they are down.
Xcel Outdoor Living builds fences and decks across Bureau, LaSalle, Putnam, Marshall, and Lee counties, Illinois. Call 815-579-2323 to walk your fence line.
