Barrow County, GA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- AG/AR front yard
- 5 ft max
- AG/AR side/rear yard
- 8 ft max
- R-1/R-2 front yard
- 4 ft, no chain link/barbed/woven wire
- Multi-family front yard
- 6 ft max
- Commercial/industrial
- 8 ft max
- Decorative subdivision/road wall
- up to 8 ft, any yard
- Visibility triangle
- no fence within 15 ft of intersection
Summary
In unincorporated Barrow County, fence height caps depend on zoning district and yard. AG and AR lots allow a 5-foot front fence and an 8-foot side or rear fence; R-1 and R-2 lots cap front fences at 4 feet and ban chain link, barbed wire or woven wire there. Commercial and industrial fences top out at 8 feet, and no fence anywhere can block the visibility triangle at a street intersection.
Height limitations for fences and freestanding walls. Fences and freestanding walls (other than retaining walls) cannot be located within any public right-of-way or utility or drainage.a.In the AG and AR zoning districts, the following shall apply:1.A fence or freestanding wall in any front yard area may not exceed five feet in height.2.A fence or freestanding wall in any side or rear yard area may not exceed eight feet in height.b.In the R-1, and R-2 zoning districts, and for single-family detached and duplex developments within the R-3 and MH zoning districts, the following shall apply:1.A fence or freestanding wall in any front yard area may not exceed four feet in height, and shall not be constructed out of chain link, barbed wire or woven wire.2.A fence or freestanding wall in any side or rear yard area may not exceed eight feet in height. ... d.In any office, commercial or industrial zoning district, no fence or freestanding wall may exceed eight feet in height.e.In all zoning districts and developments, fences or freestanding walls shall not obstruct visibility at street intersections (see the visibility triangle provisions under the project design standards in article X).
Full Breakdown
The Unified Development Code (chapter 89) sets fence and freestanding wall heights by zoning district under Sec. 89-405(b)(3). Agricultural (AG) and agricultural-residential (AR) parcels allow a 5-foot front-yard fence and an 8-foot side or rear fence. R-1 and R-2 lots, plus single-family and duplex development in R-3 and MH, cap front fences at 4 feet and prohibit chain link, barbed wire or woven wire in that front yard; side and rear fences there may reach 8 feet. Multi-family developments, including townhouses, may run a 6-foot front fence and 8-foot side or rear fence.
In any office, commercial or industrial district the cap is a flat 8 feet. A decorative wall surrounding a subdivision, or built along an abutting county road, may reach 8 feet regardless of which yard it sits in, so long as it is not placed within the right-of-way. Separately, Sec. 89-407(b)(1) sets no minimum setback from a property line for fences and freestanding walls, but bars placement inside a utility or drainage easement. Every fence, in every district, must also respect the sight-line rule: Sec.
89-1183(d)(9)d, the county's subdivision design standard, bars any fence, structure, sign or planting within 15 feet of the intersection of two street right-of-way lines. Planning and Community Development reviews fence height and placement as part of the Unified Development Code.
Violations & Fines
Planning and Community Development enforces chapter 89's fence standards. A fence built taller than the district allows, made of a prohibited material in an R-1/R-2 front yard, or placed inside an easement or the visibility triangle is a Development Code violation. Under the Code's general penalty, violators face a fine and up to 60 days in jail, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense; the county can also seek abatement or an injunction to force removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my front-yard fence be in unincorporated Barrow County?
Can I build a taller decorative wall around my subdivision?
Do I need a setback from my property line for a fence?
What is the visibility triangle rule for corner lots?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Barrow County
How Barrow County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Barrow County to another location·View the Georgia fence regulations overview
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