Apex, NC Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max freestanding height
- 7 feet incl. posts/finials
- Front-yard fence limit
- 48 inches
- Chain link
- Residential side/rear yards only
- Barbed wire
- Ag/livestock use only
- Non-res. ROW setback
- 4 feet, with screening
Summary
Apex's Unified Development Ordinance caps freestanding fences and walls at 7 feet, holds front-yard fences to 48 inches, bars plywood, particleboard, and sheet-metal fencing, and restricts chain link and barbed wire townwide.
No freestanding fence or wall shall exceed seven feet in height including piers, posts, and finials. ... Fences and walls in front yards shall not exceed 48 inches in height. Piers or posts and finials may extend up to 6 inches higher than the finished fence or wall height.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
UDO Sec. 8.2.7 caps freestanding fences and walls in Apex at 7 feet including posts and finials, and limits front-yard fences to 48 inches (posts and finials may run 6 inches taller). Approved materials are wood, stone, brick, decorative concrete block, wrought iron, or look-alike products; plywood, particleboard, sheet metal, and concrete slabs are barred. Chain link is allowed only in residential side and rear yards, must be vinyl-coated for pools, courts, and similar recreational uses, and cannot be used for subdivision buffering. Barbed wire is limited to permitted agricultural uses or kept horses/livestock. Non-residential fencing facing a public right-of-way must set back at least 4 feet with evergreen screening. The rule reaches both Apex's corporate limits and its mapped extraterritorial jurisdiction in Wake County.
Violations & Fines
A fence over the height cap, in a barred material, or missing required right-of-way setback and screening violates the UDO; the Town can deny or revoke a permit, order correction or removal, or pursue civil penalties under UDO Article 11 Enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a fence be in Apex, NC?
Can I put up a chain link fence in Apex?
Is barbed wire allowed on fences in Apex?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Apex
How Apex compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Apex to another location·View the North Carolina fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle height limits.