In the zoned 4.5-mile fringe around Billings (governed by the unified Chapter 27 zoning code), fences up to 3 feet are allowed in the required front-yard setback and up to 6 feet elsewhere. Over 6 feet must meet structure setbacks. Truly rural, unzoned county land has no county fence-height rule.
Yellowstone County zones the unincorporated area within 4.5 miles of Billings under the joint Billings/Yellowstone County zoning code (Chapter 27). Section 27-604 sets a 3-foot maximum in the required front-yard setback, allows fences, walls or hedges between 3 and 6 feet outside that setback, and requires any fence over 6 feet to meet the district's structure yard setbacks. Within a clear-vision zone at intersections, nothing over 30 inches is allowed (Sec. 27-604(d), 27-615). Where a rural parcel lies in no adopted zoning district, the county sets no fence-height standard — no permit or limit applies there.
Zoning violations in the jurisdictional area are enforced by the City-County Planning Department; noncompliant fences may be ordered removed or brought into conformance. Contact Planning at (406) 657-8247.
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Yellowstone County, MT
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Yellowstone County, MT
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Yellowstone County, MT
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See how Yellowstone County's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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