7 rules for unincorporated Howard County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Countywide zoning lets closed (privacy) fences up to 6 feet and open fences up to 6 feet stand in side or rear yards without a setback. Closed fences over 3 feet and open fences over 6 feet trigger setback and bulk rules.
Howard County Zoning Regulations § 128.0.A.9.a.(3)
The following are exempt from all structure or use setback requirements... (a) Closed fences, walls and individual retaining walls three feet or less in height. (b) Open fences six feet or less in height. (c) Noise walls of any height.
Fences that stay within the exempt heights need no zoning setback approval, but Howard County's building code requires a permit for fences over 6 feet tall. Taller or closer fences must also satisfy the district's accessory-structure bulk requirements.
Howard County Zoning Regulations § 128.0.A.9.a.(5)
Other than the exceptions noted above, fences must comply with all accessory structure bulk requirements of the applicable zoning district.
A closed fence up to 6 feet along a shared side or rear lot line is exempt from setbacks, so it can sit on the property line. Maryland has no statute forcing neighbors to split fence costs; that stays a private matter.
Howard County Zoning Regulations § 128.0.A.9.b.(1)
For properties where the side or rear yard adjoins another lot line and not a public road: Closed fences, walls and retaining walls over three feet and up to six feet in height are exempt from structure or use setback requirements if located in a side or rear yard.
An individual retaining wall three feet or less is exempt from setbacks. A series of retaining walls must follow the engineering design manual and cannot come closer than 10 feet to a property line adjoining residentially zoned land.
Howard County Zoning Regulations § 128.0.A.9.a.(6)
A series of retaining walls must be set back from property lines in accordance with engineering requirements in the engineering design manual, but are not permitted to be closer than 10 feet from the property line if adjoining residentially zoned property.
On a corner lot, no fence over 3 feet may sit inside the sight triangle formed by lines 25 feet back from where the roads meet. Fences must also respect front setbacks from any public road right-of-way.
Howard County Zoning Regulations § 128.0.A.9.b.(3)(b)
On a corner lot closed fences, walls, and retaining walls over three feet in height shall not be located within a triangle formed by straight lines joining points 25 feet back from the point where the roads intersect.
Howard County's zoning does not ban specific fence materials. Instead it classifies fences as 'open' or 'closed' by how much of the fence area is visibly open, and that classification, not the material, drives the height and setback exemptions.
Howard County Zoning Regulations § 128.0.A.9.a.(1)(a)
Open fences which include wire, chain link, post and rail, paddock, picket, or any other fences in which more than 50 % of the fence area is visibly open.
Howard County defines a closed fence as board-on-board, privacy or stockade, or any fence 50% or less visibly open, including masonry walls. The open-vs-closed distinction, not the material name, decides which height exemptions apply.
Howard County Zoning Regulations § 128.0.A.9.a.(1)(b)
Closed fences which include board on board, privacy or stockade fences, or any other fences in which 50% or less of the fence area is visibly open. Masonry walls that serve the same purpose as a closed fence are considered closed fences.
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