Fence Regulations in Flint, MI (2026)
5 verified fence regulations for Flint, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
In the City of Flint, residential fences set back 50 feet or more from the front property line can stand six feet tall; closer to the street, the limit drops to five feet with a 50% solid-construction cap.
Flint Residential Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsFlint City Code § 17-4(a)
On residentially A, B or C zoned property, fences located fifty (50) feet or more back from the front property line, and in the case of a corner lot, behind the side street building line, shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. In the remaining locations on this property, a fence shall not exceed five (5) feet in height and not more than fifty percent (50%) of the area of any five-foot long, f...
Fence Permit Requirements
Flint requires a permit before erecting or altering any fence, issued through the Division of Building and Safety Inspections, with fences treated as structures for fee purposes.
Flint Fence Permit Required
Some RestrictionsFlint City Code § 17-2
No fence shall be hereafter erected or altered without first obtaining a permit from the Division of Building and Safety Inspections of the City of Flint. ... A fence shall be considered as a structure for the purpose of figuring the permit fee.
Neighbor Fence Rules
When two adjoining Flint properties carry different zoning, the fence rule on that shared property line is set by whichever zone's requirement is least restrictive, no matter who builds the fence.
Flint Boundary Fence Zoning Rule
Some RestrictionsFlint City Code § 17-4(e)
When adjoining properties differ in zoned use, the requirements of a fence on that property line may be that of the least restrictive, regardless of the party erecting the fence. (f) No fence shall be charged or connected with an electrical current in such a manner as to transmit said current to persons, animals, or things which might intentionally or accidentally come in contact with it. ...
Retaining Walls
In the City of Flint, retaining walls are excluded from the fence ordinance entirely and must instead meet Building Code requirements enforced by Building and Safety Inspections.
Retaining Walls Follow Building Code in Flint
Some Restrictions§ 17-4(h)
No building wall, retaining wall, or similar structure shall be considered to be a part of a fence. Said walls shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Building Code.
Material Restrictions
On residential property in the City of Flint, barbed wire fencing is flatly prohibited, and no fence anywhere in the city can be electrified in a way that could shock people or animals.
Flint Bans Barbed Wire, Electric Fences
Heavy RestrictionsFlint City Code § 17-4(a), (f)
...Barbed wire is prohibited. ... (f) No fence shall be charged or connected with an electrical current in such a manner as to transmit said current to persons, animals, or things which might intentionally or accidentally come in contact with it.
Looking for Genesee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Flint city rules.
Fence Regulations in Genesee County →