All permanent fences in Ann Arbor must meet UDC Section 5.26. Near a corner (within 25 feet of two street lot lines) a fence may not exceed 30 inches above sidewalk grade to preserve driver sight lines.
Ann Arbor's UDC Section 5.26 applies to all permanent fences and sets height, opacity, and safety standards. A key safety rule: any fence within 25 feet of the intersection of two or more street lot lines, where the district's minimum front setback is greater than none, may not exceed 30 inches above sidewalk grade—keeping the corner visibility triangle clear. Fences must also be maintained so they do not endanger life or property; a fence in disrepair is deemed a nuisance. Because Washtenaw County does not zone under MCL 125.3101, these requirements are Ann Arbor's; Ypsilanti and townships adopt comparable corner and maintenance rules.
A corner fence over 30 inches, or a fence deemed a nuisance through disrepair, is a code violation; the city may require lowering, repair, or removal.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor prohibits storing abandoned, inoperable, or unregistered vehicles on public streets or visible on private property. Vehicles may be tagged and towe...
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor regulates electric vehicle charging infrastructure for residential and commercial properties. Building codes may require EV-ready parking in new co...
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor regulates overnight parking on public streets. Many areas restrict parking between certain hours or require permits for overnight street parking.
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor restricts or prohibits intentional feeding of wildlife including deer, coyotes, and bears. Feeding wildlife creates public safety hazards and nuisa...
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor restricts ownership of exotic and wild animals. Many species require special permits or are prohibited entirely for public safety.
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor may have wildfire hazard zones requiring defensible space around structures, fire-resistant building materials, and vegetation management.
See how Ann Arbor's fence requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.