Cass County, MO Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential fence height cap
- 8 feet above grade
- Commercial/industrial fence cap
- 8 feet above adjacent grade
- Rear-fence exception
- Must meet neighboring front setback
- Governing section
- Zoning Order § 400.030(A)(23)(o)
- Max fine
- $1,000 per day
Summary
In unincorporated Cass County, the Zoning Order caps residential fences, hedges and privacy walls at eight feet above grade, and allows them within the front, side or rear setback. A rear fence next to a neighboring front yard must instead sit back to that front setback line, protecting sightlines for the adjoining home.
In districts or parcels designated as residential, fences, hedges and privacy walls may be located in side, rear or front setback spaces if not exceeding eight (8) feet in height above the general grade, except that rear fences or walls shall conform to the front setback requirement where they are adjacent to the front yard of a neighboring residence. ... Fences, walls and hedges in commercial or industrial districts may be located in any setback space if not exceeding eight (8) feet in height above adjacent grade.
Full Breakdown
' The eight-foot cap and the right to build in the setback both apply county-wide to any parcel zoned residential, whether Agricultural, Rural Residential, Rural Suburban or one of the platted residential districts. ' In practice, if a rear yard backs up to a neighbor's front yard, the fence along that shared line has to sit back to the neighbor's front setback distance (fifty feet in most residential districts, twenty-five feet in R-1) rather than running to the property line at full height, so the neighbor's front-yard sightlines are not walled off.
030(A)(23)(o)(1): fences, walls and hedges in those districts may be placed in any setback space, also capped at eight feet above adjacent grade, without the residential rear-fence exception. 030(A)(22): notice from the Zoning Enforcement Officer, ten days to correct or apply for a Compliance Action Plan, and referral to Circuit Court with fines up to $1,000 per day for uncorrected violations.
Violations & Fines
Building a fence taller than eight feet, or a rear fence that fails to honor a neighboring front setback where required, is a Zoning Order violation. The Zoning Enforcement Officer gives notice, the owner has ten days to correct or apply for a Compliance Action Plan, and an uncorrected case goes to Circuit Court, where a misdemeanor conviction carries fines up to $1,000 per day under Section 400.030(A)(22)(e).
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a fence be in a residential yard in unincorporated Cass County?
My rear yard backs onto a neighbor's front yard. Does a different rule apply?
Are commercial and industrial fences held to the same height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cass County
How Cass County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Cass County to another location·View the Missouri fence regulations overview
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