Residential fences in the City of Fairfax are typically limited to 4 feet in front yards and 6 to 7 feet in side and rear yards under the zoning ordinance. Fences over these heights require a building permit and often a zoning variance, and corner lots must meet sight-distance triangles.
The City of Fairfax zoning ordinance sets residential fence height limits that follow the Northern Virginia pattern: fences in the required front yard are capped at 4 feet, and fences in side and rear yards are capped at 6 feet, with 7 feet allowed in some districts for rear yards backing up to higher-intensity uses. Heights are measured from the natural ground level to the top of the fence, excluding finials or post caps of minor dimension. Fences over 7 feet anywhere on a residential lot require a building permit under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and may require a zoning variance. Corner lots must respect sight-distance triangles at intersections, typically a 25 by 25 foot triangle where fence height is limited to 30 inches to preserve driver visibility. Swimming pool enclosures must meet the separate USBC requirement of at least 48 inches tall with self-closing, self-latching gates. HOAs in Mosby Woods, Country Club Hills, and other city subdivisions frequently impose stricter private limits and require specific materials or colors. Violations are zoning enforcement matters starting with notice and escalating to civil penalties.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Fairfax, VA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Fairfax County.
See how other cities in Fairfax County handle height limits.
See how Fairfax's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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