Decatur, AL Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

The fence height limit printed in the Decatur zoning chapter is the corner visibility rule in § 25-20. In a residence or local business district, no fence, wall, shrubbery, sign, marquee, or other obstruction to vision between the heights of three and one-half feet and fifteen feet above street level is permitted within twenty feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of two streets or railroads, or of a street and a railroad right-of-way line. In practice a solid fence can stand at the corner only if it stays under 3.5 feet, and a taller open structure has to clear the 3.5 to 15 foot band.

The second paragraph of § 25-20 adds that accessory structures within 25 feet of the rear lot line of a corner lot shall be set back the minimum front yard depth required on the side street. Section 25-14 supports it: on a residential corner lot where houses face both streets, the setback on both streets equals the front yard setback, and where lots are back to back the side yard on the side street is at least 15 feet.

Parking lot landscaping has its own sight window. Under § 25-16(9), a visibility triangle sits between 2.5 feet and 8 feet above street grade, defined by points 25 feet from the intersection right-of-way lines, and frontage landscaping at driveways must keep that area clear. In flood hazard areas, § 25-32(b)10 allows new and replacement fences only if they do not act as a flow boundary, collect debris or raise flood levels, and § 25-32(c)4 prohibits fencing in floodways unless it is shown not to increase the base flood elevation.