Fence Regulations in Detroit, MI (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Detroit, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Detroit caps residential fences at 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet on sides and rear, with materials, post placement, and barbed-wire rules set by city code.
Detroit Fence Height and Material Rules
Some RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 50-14-381
Fences between adjoining lots and on streets, alleys, and easements shall not be less than two feet in height or more than eight feet in height, except fences enclosing industrial or commercial properties may be 12 feet in height; andb.Single- and two-family dwellings. Notwithstanding Subsection (4)a of this section, the height of any fence that abuts the front yard of a single-family dwelling ...
Fence Permit Requirements
Detroit caps front yard fences at four feet (three if opaque) on single- and two-family lots, six feet on side and rear yards, and eight feet elsewhere under City Code § 50-14-381; barbed wire is barred on residential fences and razor wire is banned citywide.
Detroit Fence Height and Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 50-14-381
Fences between adjoining lots and on streets, alleys, and easements shall not be less than two feet in height or more than eight feet in height, except fences enclosing industrial or commercial properties may be 12 feet in height; andb.Single- and two-family dwellings. Notwithstanding Subsection (4)a of this section, the height of any fence that abuts the front yard of a single-family dwelling ...
Neighbor Fence Rules
Detroit requires adjoining lot owners to jointly build and maintain the partition fence between their properties, with duty split by which owner's side holds the posts.
Detroit Shared Fence Duty Rules
Some RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 50-14-381(1),(3)
The respective owners of all lots in the City shall construct and maintain partition fences between their own and next adjoining lots in such manner as stated in this section, except that by mutual consent of adjoining owners such fences between dwellings may be omitted. ... The lot owner upon whose property the posts are located shall be responsible for building and maintaining the front half ...
Material Restrictions
Detroit bans single- and two-family homes from attaching barbed wire to any fence, and prohibits razor wire and electrified fencing entirely in residential, business, and special zoning districts citywide.
Detroit Bars Barbed Wire, Razor Wire on Homes
Significant RestrictionsDetroit City Code § 50-14-381(5)-(6)
...b.Notwithstanding Subsection (5)a of this section, no single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling may attach barbed wire to any fence. No use, on a lot adjoining the lot of a single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling, may attach barbed wire to any fence that separates said use from the single- or two-family dwelling.(6)Razor wire and electrified fencing. Razor wire and electrified fenc...
Looking for Wayne County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Detroit city rules.
Fence Regulations in Wayne County →