7 rules for unincorporated Ottawa County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Ottawa County does not zone; your city or township does under Michigan's Zoning Enabling Act. In Georgetown Charter Township a fence may not exceed 3 feet in the front setback area or 6 feet in any other yard.
Georgetown Charter Township Zoning Ordinance §3.8(B)
Unless specifically provided for elsewhere in this ordinance, a fence may not exceed a height of three (3) feet within the front setback area (including the required and non-required front yard) of all streets, or a height of six (6) feet in any other area.
The county issues no fence permits — zoning is local. The City of Holland requires a permit before any fence is built. Georgetown Township requires a zoning compliance review and bars fences in any public right-of-way.
City of Holland Code §39-11(a)(1)
A permit is required prior to construction or installation of any fence.
Ottawa County sets no fence-line rule; townships and cities do. Georgetown Township does not regulate which side faces out, but a 6-foot rear-yard fence on a double-frontage lot must sit at least 5 feet off the rear property line.
Georgetown Charter Township Zoning Ordinance §3.8(E)
In the case of a double frontage lot in any Residential District, a fence up to six (6) feet in height may be erected in the rear yard, but shall be set back from the rear property line a minimum of five (5) feet.
Ottawa County does not zone walls; townships do. In Georgetown Township required walls must sit on the property line and may be built up to 12 feet only if approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals when screening features taller than 6 feet.
Georgetown Charter Township Zoning Ordinance §3.9
Required walls shall be located on the property line. When used to screen features taller than six (6) feet, required walls may be constructed to a height up to twelve (12) feet if approved by the Board of Appeals.
Ottawa County sets no fence standards; your township or city does. Georgetown Township requires every fence to conform to its zoning district and makes it unlawful to build any fence in a public right-of-way.
Georgetown Charter Township Zoning Ordinance §3.8(A)
The erection, construction, or alteration of any fence shall conform to the requirements of the applicable zoning district. It shall be unlawful to construct any fence in any public right-of-way.
Ottawa County has no fence-material rule; townships and cities do. Georgetown Township bars barbed wire and electrification on residential fences (LDR, MDR, LMR, MHP). Holland also prohibits razor, concertina and electrified wire and chain-link slats.
Georgetown Charter Township Zoning Ordinance §3.8(D)
No fence located on property within a LDR, MDR, LMR, or MHP zoning district shall contain any barbed wire or electrification, except as provided for in Sec. 3.8(B).
Ottawa County sets no material standard; local zoning does. The City of Holland requires fences to be built of wood, metal, brick, masonry, plastic or other permanent outdoor materials, with wood limited to cedar, redwood or other decay-resistant wood, and kept in good repair on both sides.
City of Holland Code §39-11(e)
Fences must be constructed of wood, metal, bricks, masonry, plastic or other materials designed for permanent outdoor fencing. Wood fences must be constructed of cedar, redwood, or other decay resistant wood.
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