How Sandy Springs Handles Fence Regulations: A Practical Guide
Sandy Springs maintains 63 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 Sandy Springs falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Material Restrictions
Sandy Springs prohibits electric or electrified fences, barbed wire, concertina wire, and fences made solely of horizontal metal wires anywhere in the city under City Code § 38-65. The ban applies citywide with no zoning carve-out and covers construction, erection, and ongoing maintenance of a nonconforming fence, not just new installation.
Key details: Governing section: City Code § 38-65. Banned types: Electric, barbed wire, concertina, horizontal metal wire. Scope: Citywide, no zoning district exception. Adopted: January 15, 2019 (Ord. No. 2019-01-05). Max penalty: $1,000 fine or 6 months jail.
Constructing, erecting, or simply continuing to maintain an electric, barbed-wire, concertina-wire, or horizontal-metal-wire fence violates § 38-65 and, absent a specific fine in that section, is punished under the Code's general penalty in § 1-10(c): up to $1,000 and six months in jail, with each day the fence remains up a separate offense.
Compared to other cities, Sandy Springs takes a harder line on material restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Fence Permit Requirements
Sandy Springs does not regulate ordinary residential fences through this chapter, but any fence built inside the public street right-of-way needs a permit first. City Code Section 50-25(c) makes it unlawful to install a permanent fence, sign, or irrigation system in the right-of-way without written authorization from the Department of Public Works.
Key details: Permit issuer: City of Sandy Springs Department of Public Works. Covers: Fences built inside the public street right-of-way. Excludes: Ordinary residential fences on private property. Application requirement: Measurements, plats, compliance statement per Sec. 50-26. Penalty basis: General Code penalty under Section 1-10.
Building a fence in the right-of-way without the Section 50-25(c) permit is punished under Section 50-24 per the general penalty schedule in Section 1-10, and Public Works can require removal of the unpermitted fence from the right-of-way as part of enforcement.
The Bottom Line
Sandy Springs'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 Sandy Springs is broadly strict or permissive.
All of the above reflects Sandy Springs's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.