DeKalb County, GA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Side/rear yard height
- Up to 8 feet
- Front yard height
- Up to 4 feet
- Variance ceiling
- 10 feet (ZBA)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated DeKalb only
Summary
Unincorporated DeKalb County caps side and rear yard fences at eight feet and front-yard fences at four feet, with a possible administrative or zoning board variance to go higher.
Fences and walls in interior side or rear yards of single-family detached residential on individual lots and perimeter of subdivision. Up to eight (8) feet. Fences may be up to property line; walls, including footings, must not encroach over property line. May apply for a variance from zoning board of appeals to increase height up to ten (10) feet max. Fences and walls on land that is adjacent to public streets, on the perimeter of single-family detached, attached, and multi-family developments that are internally oriented. Six (6) feet adjoining the street. A fifteen-feet-wide buffer must be constructed between the fence/wall and the street right-of-way. May apply for a variance from zoning board of appeals to increase height up to ten (10) feet max. Industrial No limit if adjoining non-residential use. Eight (8) feet if adjoining residential zoning or use. Fences may be up to the property line; walls, including footings, must not encroach over property line. Shall not be within the right-of-way. If next to residential, may apply for a variance from zoning board of appeals to increase height up to ten (10) feet max. Single-family subdivisions and multi-family developments identification or monument walls. Up to eight (8) feet. Shall not be located in right-of-way. Setback varies, depending on sight visibility May apply for a variance from zoning board of appeals to increase height up to ten (10) feet max.
Full Breakdown
DeKalb County's zoning code caps fences and walls in the interior side or rear yard of single-family lots, and along subdivision perimeters, at eight feet, running up to the property line (footings can't encroach). Front-yard fences are limited to four feet. This applies only in unincorporated DeKalb; Decatur, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Tucker, Stonecrest and the county's other cities set their own fence rules.
Violations & Fines
No fixed fine is written into the zoning code; a fence built over the height limit is a zoning violation subject to a stop-work order or removal by code enforcement unless a zoning board of appeals variance is obtained first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard privacy fence be in unincorporated DeKalb County?
Can I build a taller fence than the code allows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DeKalb County
How DeKalb County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare DeKalb County to another location·View the Georgia fence regulations overview
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