Gretna, LA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Back/side yard max
- 8 feet
- Front yard max
- 4 feet, no sightline obstruction
- Column max
- 9 feet, spaced 5+ feet apart
- Gate arbor/trellis max
- 9 feet 6 inches
- Materials allowed
- Wood, metal, masonry, or rigid composite
- Zoning override
- Chapter 58 (UDC) may set different limits
Summary
In the City of Gretna, a residential back or side yard fence or wall can rise to eight feet, while a front yard fence or wall is capped at four feet and cannot block sightlines to the street, under Code section 10-5. Columns can reach nine feet, and gate arbors or trellises up to nine feet six inches.
Except as otherwise provided in chapter 58: (1)The maximum height of a fence or wall bordering the back and side yards of residential property shall be eight feet. A side yard fence shall not extend past the front corners of any residence.(2)A front yard fence or wall shall have a maximum height of four feet, and it shall in no case be of a height or composition so as to present a traffic safety hazard by, for example, obstructing one's view from a driveway to the adjoining street or vice versa.(3)The maximum height shall be measured from:a.Six inches above the lowest point of the natural grade immediately adjacent to the fence on the outside;b.The top of a chain wall that is not to exceed eight inches measured from the adjacent grade on the outside; orc.The top of a retaining wall that has been properly permitted.(4)Columns spaced not less than five feet apart shall not exceed nine feet when measured in the same manner described in subsection (3) of this section; gateway arbors, trellises or any other structure erected as part of or over a permitted gate on a fence shall not exceed nine feet six inches when measure in the same manner described in paragraph (3) above.
Full Breakdown
Section 10-5 measures every height from six inches above the lowest adjacent natural grade, or from the top of a chain wall no taller than eight inches, or from the top of a properly permitted retaining wall. A side yard fence at the full eight-foot height cannot extend past the front corners of the house. Front yard fences and walls are held to four feet and must not create a traffic hazard by blocking the view between a driveway and the street. Columns spaced at least five feet apart may rise to nine feet, and gateway arbors, trellises, or any structure built over a permitted gate may reach nine feet six inches, both measured the same way as the fence itself.
Materials are limited to wood, metal, masonry, or a rigid manmade composite that imitates one of those. com/UDC, can set a different limit in a specific zoning district; that UDC is not part of this Code of Ordinances export and was last substantially repealed and replaced by Ordinance No. 4878 on June 12, 2019. 1, most recently amended by Ordinance No. 4749 on November 9, 2016.
Violations & Fines
Section 10-5 sets no fine of its own, so a violation falls to the Code's general penalty in Section 1-8: a fine not exceeding $500.00, with each day the fence remains out of compliance chargeable as a separate offense. The building official and code enforcement officer under Chapters 10 and 24 can require modification before issuing further permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Gretna?
How tall can my front yard fence be in Gretna?
What materials can I use for a residential fence in Gretna?
Can zoning override Gretna's general fence height rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gretna
How Gretna compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Gretna to another location·View the Louisiana fence regulations overview
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