Grand Rapids, MI Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Solid fence, front yard
- 3 ft
- Solid fence, side/rear yard
- 6 ft
- Chain-link + slats
- Director approval required
- Slatted fence visibility
- not visible from ROW
Summary
Solid, opaque privacy fences and walls in Grand Rapids are capped at 3 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards; chain-link fences fitted with privacy slats need Planning Director approval and can't be visible from the public right-of-way.
Solid fences and walls 2 3 6 3 6 ... 2 Solid fences and walls are constructed of opaque materials and block the passage of light. An Administrative Departure is required to permit chain link fences with slats. ... Chain link fences with slats are not permitted unless approved by the Planning Director and only where the fence location will not be generally visible from the public right-of-way.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Table 5.2.11.C of the Zoning Ordinance defines 'solid fences and walls' as those built of opaque materials that block the passage of light, and limits them to 3 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side/rear yards for both residential and non-residential uses. Ordinary chain-link is treated as an open fence type and isn't opaque on its own; adding privacy slats to chain-link requires an Administrative Departure approved by the Planning Director, and only where the fence won't be generally visible from a public right-of-way. All privacy fencing over 30 inches still needs a Zoning Permit under § 5.2.11.A.
Violations & Fines
Installing a solid or slatted privacy fence above the height table, or slatting chain-link without Director approval, is a Chapter 61 zoning violation subject to enforcement by the City Manager under § 5.14.05, with correction or removal required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a solid privacy fence in my front yard?
Can I add privacy slats to a chain-link fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
How Grand Rapids compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Grand Rapids to another location·View the Michigan fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kent County handle height limits.