7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Shelby County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Shelby County the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code caps front-yard fences at four feet, with decorative metal permitted up to eight feet, and side or rear fences at nine feet in required setbacks.
Memphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 4.6.7C
No fence or wall may exceed four feet in height between the front facade of any single-family residence and a public right-of-way or private street... Wrought iron or other decorative metal fencing may be up to eight feet in height in the front yard.
In unincorporated Shelby County fences must comply with the Unified Development Code and are reviewed by the Division of Planning and Development through the Develop901 portal; larger or nonconforming fences may require an administrative deviation.
Memphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 4.6.7F
The Planning Director may permit additional fence material, alternate fence design, additional fence height, or reduced setback through the administrative deviation if it is determined that such allowance is not contrary to the public interest and will not be injurious to the surrounding neighborhood.
The Unified Development Code sets fence heights and materials but not private cost-sharing; in unincorporated Shelby County boundary-fence disputes and shared costs fall under Tennessee partition-fence law and property lines rather than the county code.
Memphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 4.6.7E(6)
Fencing Facing Public Streets. Any side of fencing with exposed posts and rails shall not face public streets in the residential and open zoning districts.
The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code exempts retaining walls from the fence height and setback provisions of Section 4.6.7, so retaining walls in unincorporated Shelby County are not limited by the fence-height rules.
Memphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 4.6.7A
Retaining Walls. Retaining walls are exempt from the following provisions.
The Unified Development Code sets construction standards for fences in unincorporated Shelby County, including quality materials, clear sight triangles at corners and driveways, and a 100-foot maximum for unbroken fence planes along public rights-of-way.
Memphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 4.6.7E(5)
The maximum length of a continuous, unbroken and uninterrupted fence or wall plane abutting a public right-of-way shall be 100 feet. Breaks shall be provided through the use of columns, landscaped areas, transparent sections and a change in material.
The Unified Development Code bars electrified, barbed-wire, and concertina fences in residential districts of unincorporated Shelby County, and restricts uncoated chain link and metal-panel fencing outside industrial zones.
Memphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 4.6.7E
Electrified fences, barbed wire or concertina wire fences are not permitted in a residential district... Uncoated chain-link fences are not permitted except in the EMP, WD, and IH districts.
The Unified Development Code requires fences in unincorporated Shelby County to use high-quality materials such as decorative block, brick, stone, masonry, stucco, treated wood, and wrought iron, with coated chain link allowed only where permitted.
Memphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 4.6.7E(1)
Fences and walls must be constructed of high quality materials, such as decorative blocks, brick, stone, masonry panels, stucco, treated wood and wrought iron; and, where permitted, vinyl-coated chain link.
1 cities in Shelby County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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