Fence Regulations in Washington County, UT (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Washington County, Utah.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Washington County caps residential fence height at six feet along side and rear property lines and three feet in any front setback area under County Ordinance 10-15B-3. Corner lots add a 30-foot clear-view triangle where nothing over three feet is allowed, and a fence between lots with different grades can reach a ten-foot maximum measured from each side's finished grade.
Washington County Fence Height Limits, 3 To 6 Feet
Some RestrictionsWashington County Code of Ordinances § 10-15B-3
A. Side And Rear Property Lines: On all interior lots, a fence, not to exceed six feet in height, may be erected along all side and rear property lines, but not in the front yard setback area. B. Front Setback Area: In any front setback area, no wall, fence, or hedge shall exceed three feet in height.
Fence Permit Requirements
In unincorporated Washington County, a fence built to the height and setback limits in County Code chapter 10-15B goes up without a separate permit. Planning Commission approval is required only for fences placed beyond the property line onto the public right-of-way, fences not otherwise identified in the chapter, and fences the Commission finds necessary around hazardous ponds, canals or ditches.
Washington County Fence Permit & Approval Rules
Some RestrictionsWashington County Code of Ordinances § 10-15B-5
No fence approved under this chapter shall be erected beyond the property line on the public right-of-way, without the approval of the Planning Commission. Approval of a fence on the public right-of-way shall be subject to the following conditions: A. Right Of Removal: The County shall retain the right to remove any fence on the public right-of-way for any purpose it deems necessary. Removal sh...
Neighbor Fence Rules
Washington County puts fencing duty on the landowner, not a shared-cost neighbor rule: section 9-4-2 requires owners of farms, subdivisions and other private property to fence their own land to keep domestic animals from trespassing, using the 'legal fence' standard set in section 9-4-1.
Washington County Boundary Fencing Duty
Some RestrictionsWashington County Code of Ordinances §§ 9-4-1, 9-4-2
A "legal fence" is defined for the purposes of this chapter as a fence with not less than four (4) horizontal barriers, consisting of wires, boards, poles or other fence material in common use in the neighborhood, with posts set not more than twenty feet (20') apart. The lower barrier shall not be more than twelve inches (12") from the ground and the space between any two (2) barriers shall not...
Retaining Walls
Washington County requires a building and/or excavation permit from the Community Development Department before building or altering a rockery or segmental block retaining wall, and the design must be stamped by a Utah-licensed engineer. Walls under four feet in exposed height with shallow 10H:1V slopes are exempt from the permit under County Ordinance 10-15A-2.
Washington County Retaining Wall Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsWashington County Code of Ordinances § 10-15A-2
A. Except as otherwise provided in Part 2, all rockery and segmental block retaining walls shall be subject to the provisions of this article and shall require a building permit and/or excavation permit issued by the Washington County Community Development Department prior to construction or alteration unless the wall was included and approved on the engineered construction drawings for a subdi...
Material Restrictions
Washington County bans barbed wire and razor ribbon fencing in every zone except agricultural zones or properties keeping large livestock, under County Ordinance 10-15B-9. Where the wire is allowed, it must be pulled straight rather than rolled or coiled, and if it tops a fence or wall the combined height cannot exceed seven feet.
Washington County Bars Barbed Wire In Most Zones
Significant RestrictionsWashington County Code of Ordinances § 10-15B-9
Barbed wire, razor ribbon, or similar fencing material is prohibited in all zones except agricultural zones, or other zones or properties, where there is the keeping of large livestock animals. The use of the above named wires shall conform to the following restrictions: A. It shall be pulled straight not rolled or coiled. B. If installed on top of a fence or wall, it shall not exceed a total h...
Fence Regulations by City in Washington County
1 cities in Washington County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Washington County ordinances
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