Fence Regulations in Mobile, AL (2026)
5 verified fence regulations for Mobile, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Mobile caps sight-obstructing fences at 3 feet in a required front or corner-lot side yard, and allows up to 8 feet everywhere else.
Mobile Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsMobile City Code § 64-3-5(C)(1)
(a)No fence or wall that obstructs sight shall be erected or altered in any required front yard to exceed a height of three (3) feet.(b)Except as specified in the design review guidelines for Mobile's historic districts for sites in historic districts, any fence or wall beyond the required front yard may not exceed a height of eight (8) feet.(c)On a corner building site having to its rear a bui...
Fence Permit Requirements
Mobile requires a permit for every fence or wall built in the city, per the Sec. 11-34 fee schedule: $5 if no inspection is required, $25 if inspection is required. Fences are not on the code's exempt-work list, and failing to get a permit multiplies the fee up to five times on a repeat offense.
Mobile Fence Permit Fee and Penalties
Some RestrictionsMobile City Code § 11-34
On modifications, alterations, or repairs on any building or structure, a permit fee for each permit shall be paid at the time of filing an application. The applicable permit fees required by the city shall be determined in accordance with the schedule of fees as listed...r.Fence and wall fee (construction of all fences or walls): .....No inspections required .....5.00 Inspection required ........
Neighbor Fence Rules
Adjoining property owners in Mobile must split the cost of building and repairing a shared partition fence or wall, unless they privately agree otherwise. If neighbors cannot agree, either owner may have the fence or wall built or repaired, and the director of inspection services can order repairs and require an equitable division of the expense between them.
Mobile Boundary Fence Joint Expense Rules
Some RestrictionsMobile City Code §§ 21-2, 21-3, 21-4, 21-5
Every partition fence and wall in the city shall be erected, built and kept in repair at the joint expense and cost of the persons whose grounds shall be enclosed or separated thereby. If the parties cannot agree, either may have the fence or wall built or necessary repairs made. ... In all cases where any dispute shall arise as to the necessity for repair or its extent or the sum of money to b...
Retaining Walls
Mobile exempts retaining walls of 4 feet or less from a building permit: taller walls, or any wall holding back a surcharge or hazardous liquids, need one.
Mobile Retaining Wall Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsMobile City Code § 11-34
Retaining walls that are not over four (4) feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding class I, II or III-A liquids.d.Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed five thousand (5,000) gallons (18,927 L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.e.Sidew...
Material Restrictions
Mobile prohibits barbed wire or other unsafe fencing material along or adjacent to any building line, with a narrow carve-out for fencing around city-owned public property.
Mobile Bans Barbed Wire Fences On Buildings
Significant RestrictionsMobile City Code § 21-1
No person shall erect or maintain along or adjacent to any building line any fence constructed of barbed wire or other material that may be considered by the director of inspection services unsafe nor shall any part of any such fence be constructed of such materials. The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to apply to any fencing around public property when the chief of the police de...
Looking for Mobile County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Mobile city rules.
Fence Regulations in Mobile County →