How Cary Handles Fence Regulations: A Practical Guide
Cary maintains 106 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Cary falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Fence Permit Requirements
The Town of Cary requires a fence permit only for fences built adjacent to a thoroughfare or collector street right-of-way, under the Land Development Ordinance's fence and wall screening rules.
Key details: Permit trigger: fence adjacent to thoroughfare/collector ROW. Screening trigger: >42 in tall, within 30 ft of ROW. Shrub spacing: 1 evergreen shrub per 5 ft frontage. Citation: LDO § 7.2.7(C)(3).
Building an unpermitted fence adjacent to a thoroughfare or collector right-of-way, or skipping the required shrub screening, is a Land Development Ordinance violation the Planning Department can cite and order corrected.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls over 30 inches tall in Cary, Wake County must include a guard or barricade, 36 inches on residential lots, 42 inches for other uses, under the Land Development Ordinance.
Key details: Guard trigger: retaining wall over 30 inches. Residential guard height: 36 inches minimum. Other-use guard height: 42 inches minimum. Max opening: 4 inches.
Building or leaving an unguarded retaining wall over 30 inches, or a steep grade change without the required 36- or 42-inch barricade, is a Land Development Ordinance violation subject to citation.
Material Restrictions
The Town of Cary prohibits electrically charged fences and barbed or razor wire fencing town-wide, with narrow exceptions for bona fide farm livestock enclosures and public-safety facilities.
Key details: Prohibited: electric, barbed, and razor wire fences. Farm exception: bona fide livestock farms only. Institutional exception: public safety/security facilities. Scope: town-wide, all zoning districts.
Installing an electrically charged fence or one built of barbed or razor wire outside the farm-livestock or public-safety exceptions is a Land Development Ordinance violation subject to removal and citation.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Cary actively enforces its material restrictions requirements.
Height Limits
Cary caps fences and walls inside required yard setbacks at 8 feet, outside setbacks allows building-height limits instead, and bars any fence from blocking a corner sight-distance triangle.
Key details: In-setback max height: 8 feet. Entry column max: 12 feet. Screening trigger: over 42 inches near street. Sight triangles: cannot be obstructed. Currency: through Ord. 2025-CODE-02, 5-22-25.
A fence exceeding the 8-foot in-setback cap or blocking a sight distance triangle without approval is a zoning violation subject to LDO Chapter 11 enforcement.
The Bottom Line
Cary's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Cary is broadly strict or permissive.
These rules come from Cary's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.