How Clarksville Handles Fence Regulations: A Practical Guide
Clarksville maintains 90 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Clarksville falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Retaining Walls
Clarksville has no chapter devoted to retaining walls. The zoning ordinance exempts them from the corner sight-triangle height limit, the drainage chapter exempts their excavation from grading permits, and structural review runs through the adopted building code.
Key details: Dedicated ordinance: None in city code. Sight triangle: Retaining walls exempted. Grading permit: Excavation for walls exempt. Structural rules: 2018 IBC and IRC. Permit authority: Building and Codes Department.
Building without a required permit is enforced by Building and Codes under the adopted codes, which set a fifty dollar civil fine with each day a separate offense.
Clarksville is more permissive than most cities when it comes to retaining walls. That said, there are still limits.
Material Restrictions
Clarksville bans barbed wire outright on residential property and requires five feet of clearance on commercial lots. Where the zoning ordinance demands an opaque screening fence, chain link, plastic sheeting and fabric do not qualify as acceptable materials.
Key details: Residential barbed wire: Prohibited entirely. Commercial barbed wire: Five feet above grade minimum. Agricultural land: Exempt from Sec. 10-203. Required screening fences: Chain link not allowed. Screening fence opacity: Eighty percent minimum.
Zoning fence violations are cited to Clarksville Municipal Court under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 11.9: civil fine up to fifty dollars, each day a separate offense.
The Bottom Line
Clarksville'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 Clarksville is broadly strict or permissive.
These rules come from Clarksville's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.