6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in New Castle County, Delaware.
Verified from official government sources
New Castle County fences in residential districts must not exceed 6 feet. Posts and structural elements may extend to 7 feet to account for sloping ground. A 2024 ordinance updated street-yard fence rules.
Most residential fences in New Castle County are exempt from building permits. Exceptions include pool barriers and fences within FEMA-designated floodplains (required by Ordinance 24-059).
New Castle County recommends placing fences slightly back from property lines to avoid boundary disputes. Partition fence disputes are governed by Delaware common law and Delaware Code Title 25 §601 et seq. (primarily for agricultural settings).
New Castle County requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall. Walls supporting surcharge loads require permits at any height. Engineered plans required over 4 feet.
New Castle County requires 4-foot minimum pool barriers per IRC Appendix G and 16 Del. C. §3001F. Self-closing, self-latching gates mandatory. Barriers must be inspected as part of the pool permit before water is added.
New Castle County regulates fence materials through the Unified Development Code (UDC), primarily Article 40 (zoning). Wood, vinyl, composite, wrought iron, and tubular steel are permitted in residential districts. Barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited in residential zones. Chain-link is allowed but often restricted to side and rear yards. Electric fences require special approval and are limited to agricultural zones.
1 cities in New Castle County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for New Castle County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
New Castle County Ordinance Hub →