7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Guilford County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Guilford County, residential fences may not exceed 4 feet up to the front setback line and 8 feet behind it. Recreational fences can reach 12 feet if transparent and within the setback.
Guilford County UDO 6.4.E.1
Residential Uses: a. Before Front Setback: No fence shall exceed four (4) feet in height up to the front setback line. b. Behind Front Setback: No fence shall exceed eight (8) feet in height behind the front setback line.
Guilford County's UDO regulates fence type, height and placement but does not itself require a zoning permit for an ordinary residential fence. Temporary construction fencing is expressly allowed, and taller or industrial fences must meet added standards.
Guilford County UDO 6.4.B
This Section regulates all fences unless otherwise provided in this Ordinance. Fences are permitted in required setbacks according to ARTICLE 4 - Zoning, provided the requirements of this Section are met.
Guilford County's UDO does not set a spite-fence or shared-cost rule; those are civil matters. The county does bar fences that obstruct street-intersection sight lines or block access to a neighbor's doors, windows or drainage.
Guilford County UDO 6.4.C.1
No fence shall be placed or retained in such a manner as to obstruct vision at any intersection of public or private streets.
Guilford County's UDO treats a retaining wall or berm under a fence as part of the fence's overall height. Fences may not impede the natural flow of water in any stream, creek, drainage swale or ditch.
Guilford County UDO 6.4.E.4.a
Fence height shall be measured in the same manner as buildings. However, where fences are located on retaining walls or man-made berms, the height of the retaining wall or berm shall be considered as part of the overall height of the fence.
Every fence in unincorporated Guilford County must avoid blocking street sight lines, doors, windows and drainageways, and keep at least 2 feet of clearance from building walls. Historic-district fences follow their district guidelines.
Guilford County UDO 6.4.C.4
No fence shall block access from doors or windows. Fences must have a clearance of at least two (2) feet from building walls, except where fences project from or to a building wall.
Guilford County bans barbed and razor wire, electrified fences, concertina wire and flammable materials for ordinary fences. Agricultural livestock fencing and industrial low-voltage fences are the main exceptions.
Guilford County UDO 6.4.B.2
The following fence types are prohibited: a. Fences constructed primarily of barbed or razor wire... c. Fences constructed in whole or in part of readily flammable material such as paper, cloth or canvas; d. Fences constructed of concertina wire.
Guilford County allows masonry or stone walls, ornamental iron, chain-link or woven wire, and wood or similar material as fences in every zoning district, provided the general fence standards are met.
Guilford County UDO 6.4.B.1
The following fence types are permitted in all zoning districts: a. Masonry or stone walls; b. Ornamental iron; c. Chain-link or woven wire; and d. Wood or similar material.
2 cities in Guilford County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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