Birmingham, AL Fence Regulations: Fence Requirements (2026)

Section 5 (Walls and Fences) of the City of Birmingham Zoning Ordinance sets citywide fence standards beyond simple height. Under Subsection 5 (Visibility), no fence, wall, or planting may be erected, placed, or constructed so that it obstructs visibility of traffic and creates a 'line of sight' problem as determined by review of the Traffic Engineering Department; the fence or wall must be reconfigured or repositioned in compliance with that department's recommendation. Under Subsection 7 (Construction, Materials, and Maintenance), the finished side of a fence must face the adjacent property and thoroughfare, fences in front yards must not be opaque (except for certain uses such as junk yards), and all fences must be well-maintained, in upright condition, and free of missing and broken parts, with salvaged materials such as pallets prohibited. On non-residentially zoned property within the same block face as, or abutting, residentially zoned property, the residential height restrictions apply (Subsection 4); otherwise non-residential fence height is set by administrative staff review.