Durham UDO Section 9.9 limits residential fences to 4 feet in front yards and 8 feet in side and rear yards. Corner lots face additional restrictions along side streets.
Under the Durham Unified Development Ordinance Section 9.9, fences with street frontage in non-Rural tiers are capped at 4 feet. Side and rear yards allow up to 8 feet. Corner-lot fences between the primary structure and side street are limited to 4 feet along the entire street yard unless a use permit is obtained from the Board of Adjustment. On parcels of 2 acres or more, fences may reach 8 feet without Board approval if set back at least 50 feet from any right-of-way and see-through in design (split-rail or chain-link style). Any fence exceeding the 8-foot maximum requires a variance under UDO 3.14.8. The Board of Adjustment considers impacts on natural light, air circulation, emergency access, and property-value compatibility when evaluating requests.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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