Fence Regulations in Surry County, NC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Surry County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Fence Permit Requirements
Unincorporated Surry County does not require a zoning permit to build a fence. The county's own zoning definition of STRUCTURE expressly excludes walls and fences, so the pre-construction zoning permit requirement in § 154.005-01(C), which is written to cover buildings, other structures and accessory structures, never reaches a fence.
Fence Permits in Unincorporated Surry County
Few RestrictionsSurry County Code §§ 154.003-02, 154.005-01(C)
STRUCTURE. ... Anything constructed or erected which is above grade including a manufactured home and a storage trailer. For purposes of this chapter, STRUCTURE does not include landscape features, such as ornamental pools, planting boxes, sculpture, birdbaths, open terraces, at-grade bridges and walkways, at-grade slab patios, driveways, walls or fences, shelters for pets, playhouses, open sta...
Retaining Walls
In unincorporated Surry County, North Carolina, a retaining wall built in a regulated floodway or non-encroachment area that involves placing fill has to meet the floodway limitations in the county's flood damage prevention rules. The Planning and Development Department's Floodplain Administrator will not allow the encroachment unless a registered North Carolina professional engineer certifies, through hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, that the wall will not raise base flood levels during a flood.
Retaining Walls in Surry County Floodways Require Engineering Certification
Some RestrictionsSurry County Code §§ 154.017-07(I)(2), 154.017-10(B)(1)
(I) Other development. ... (2) Retaining walls, sidewalks and driveways in regulated floodways and NEAs. Retaining walls and sidewalks and driveways that involve the placement of fill in regulated floodways shall meet the limitations of § 154.017-11. ... (1) No encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other developments shall be permitted unless it ha...
Material Restrictions
Inside the Village of Rockford Historic District, Surry County's zoning code bans chain-link fencing, with or without any type of insert, along with razor wire and barbed wire, for both residential and non-residential development. The ban does not reach bona fide farm operations in the district.
Barbed Wire Fence Ban in Rockford, Surry County
Significant RestrictionsSurry County Code § 154.006-22(G)(1)(f)
(f) Chain link fencing (with or without any type of inserts), razor wire, and barbed wire shall not be permitted. This requirement does not apply to agricultural operations as defined under the bona fide farm provision.
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