Not every property here has the same rules or the same starting point. Some sit inside a designated landmark district, some have a raised stone front yard, and some are working around a lot line that was drawn in the 1800s. Here is how we handle the common ones.

Homes Inside a Landmark District

Several blocks here fall inside designated landmark districts, including the Arlington and Roslyn Place District. Anything visible from the sidewalk goes through the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, and open-style iron is generally what gets approved for a front yard. We build to that standard by default and can put together what you need for the review. Our notes on landmark and HOA rules for ironwork explain what to expect.

Raised Front Yards and Stone Walls

A lot of the greystones here sit above the sidewalk with a low limestone wall already in place. There is nowhere to dig, so the fence has to be anchored into the stone or concrete that is there without cracking it. We core and set rather than drive, and we match the fence height to the wall so the two read as one piece. More on anchoring iron into existing concrete.

Narrow Lots and Shared Walkways

Side yards here are tight, and the gangway between two buildings is often shared. We size gates to swing clear of a neighbor's path, keep posts out of the walking line, and set the hinge side so the gate does not become the thing everyone squeezes past. Where a lot line is unclear, we sort that out before anything gets fabricated.

Coach Houses and Alley Gates

Plenty of properties here have a coach house or a garage opening onto the alley, which means a second gate doing much harder work than the front one. These take heavier posts, better hardware, and a latch that still works after a winter. We handle gate installation in Lincoln Park alongside the fence so both match.