Westland's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Westland, Michigan, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.
Fence Permit Requirements
Westland requires a building department permit before constructing any fence in the city, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, under the fence article the city council rewrote in 2024.
Key details: Permit required: Before any fence is built. Issued by: Department of Building. Application needs: Plot plan, materials, height, post sketch. Fee: Set by § 46-1 schedule. Adopted: Ord. No. 198-A-5, 8-5-24.
Building a fence without a permit is a code violation the building department can cite; the owner can be required to obtain a permit after the fact, modify the fence, or remove it.
Height Limits
Westland only allows a privacy fence in an interior lot's side yard if the neighbor consents in writing; rear-yard privacy fences, defined as opaque fencing, need no such consent but must stay 3 to 6.5 feet tall.
Key details: Privacy fence defined: Opaque, cannot be seen through. Interior lot side yard: Requires neighbor's written consent. Rear yard privacy fence: 3 ft to 6 ft 6 in, no consent needed. Shared driveway lots: No side yard fence without consent.
A side yard privacy fence built on an interior lot without the neighbor's written consent can be cited by the building department and ordered removed or relocated.
Retaining Walls
Westland lets homeowners build retaining walls, garden walls, steps, and paved terraces up to three feet above finished grade inside required front, side, and rear yards without extra clearance.
Key details: Height cap: 3 ft above finished grade. Where allowed: Front, side, rear yards. Applies in: R-1, R-2, R-3 districts. Over the cap: Standard setback rules apply.
Building a retaining wall over the three-foot allowance without meeting standard yard rules is a zoning violation, punishable by a fine up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both, per day of continuing violation.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Westland gives residents more flexibility on retaining walls.
Material Restrictions
Westland bans electrified fences and any electrical attachment on a fence in every zoning district, and prohibits barbed wire fencing outright in both residential and commercial areas.
Key details: Electrified fences: Banned in every zone. Barbed wire: Banned, residential & commercial. Sharp spikes/nails: Banned on residential fences (§22-305). Enforced by: Department of Building.
An electrified or barbed-wire fence can be cited by the building department and ordered removed; repeat or uncorrected violations can be referred for citation under the city's general penalty provisions.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Westland actively enforces its material restrictions requirements.
Neighbor Fence Rules
Westland lets neighbors split a boundary fence's cost and upkeep by written mutual consent, or a building department safety finding or ownership survey can substitute when there's no agreement between owners.
Key details: Cost-sharing path: Written mutual consent of owners. No-consent path: Safety finding or ownership survey. Solo-property fence: Owner maintains both sides. Adopted: Ord. No. 198-A-5, 8-5-24.
A boundary fence built without meeting one of the three conditions, or without the solo owner accepting the maintenance obligation, can be denied a permit or ordered removed by the building department.
The Bottom Line
Westland'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 Westland is broadly strict or permissive.
All of the above reflects Westland'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.