Franklin County, NC Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

UDC § 6.7.1.A sets the county's baseline fence heights: a fence or wall up to 6 feet may run along any side or rear lot line, while a fence or wall inside a required front yard or street yard is limited to 4 feet, with industrial districts exempted up to the full 6-foot height even in front. Section 6.7.1.B requires fences and walls to be built of high-quality materials such as decorative block, brick, stone, treated wood, wrought iron, black vinyl-coated chain link, or vinyl or treated wood privacy fencing, giving property owners a defined menu rather than leaving material choice open-ended.

Section 6.7.1.C bars placing any fence or wall within an easement, whether for access, drainage or utility purposes, so a fence line has to clear recorded easements regardless of height. These standards sit within Article 6, Design Criteria, which the UDC applies to all development in the county's jurisdiction (§ 6.9). Because the fence standards are part of the Unified Development Ordinance, the general enforcement and penalty provisions of Article 3 apply: the Administrator investigates complaints, issues correction orders, and can pursue a civil penalty up to $500 or a Class 3 misdemeanor charge for a fence that exceeds the height limit or sits on an easement, with the property owner able to appeal a correction order to the Board of Adjustment.