In unincorporated Johnson County, the Zoning Regulations administered by the Planning Department set fence height and placement standards. Fences may be built up to a maximum of eight feet, but may not be located in the front yard except for a decorative entry fence. A building permit from Johnson County Building Codes is required only when a fence exceeds seven feet in height; fences seven feet and under do not require a building permit but must still comply with zoning standards. Fence rules inside Johnson County cities — Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Mission, etc. — are set by each city's own code.
Authority: K.S.A. 19-2901 et seq. (county zoning) and the Johnson County Zoning Regulations administered by the Planning Department (111 S. Cherry St., Olathe; 913-715-2200). The maximum residential fence height is eight feet. Fences are not permitted in the front yard except for a decorative entry fence. A fence over seven feet in height requires a residential or commercial building permit from Johnson County Building Codes (913-715-2233); fences seven feet or under do not require a building permit but must still meet zoning placement, sight-triangle, and material standards. Residents are directed to call the Planning Department at 913-715-2200 for the specific rules applying to their parcel and zoning district, since standards vary between rural (RUR), residential (RN, RS, RE, R-1), and other districts. Fence rules inside Johnson County's incorporated cities are set by each city's own code: Overland Park's fence code, Olathe Unified Development Ordinance §18.50.050, Lenexa, Shawnee, Mission, Leawood, Prairie Village, and others each maintain their own height limits, front-yard prohibitions, and permit thresholds. The Johnson County Zoning Regulations are currently being updated; the Planning Commission's update project is expected to bring revised development standards (including fences) for adoption in 2026.
Building or maintaining a non-compliant fence — exceeding the eight-foot maximum, located in the front yard, or constructed over seven feet without a building permit — is a zoning violation enforced by the Planning Department's Code Enforcement office (913-715-2205). Code Enforcement may issue notices of violation and require modification or removal; unresolved cases are referred to the Johnson County Counselor for civil injunctive relief. Each day a violation continues may be treated as a separate offense. Building a fence over seven feet without a permit may also trigger separate building-code enforcement and refusal of inspections on related work.
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