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Kansas City, MO Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

General max height
6 feet
Front yard max
48 inches
Corner lot side yard max
48 inches
Pre-2000 fences
Exempt if built before 3/20/2000
Variance route
Board of Zoning Adjustment, $174 fee

Summary

Kansas City caps residential fences at 6 feet overall, but front yards and corner-lot street-side yards drop to just 48 inches.

No fence or wall over six feet high shall be erected on a residential lot, provided that this height restriction is further limited in subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this section.(b)Front yard fences and walls. No fence or wall in the front yard of a residential lot may be over 48 inches high. For the purposes of this subsection, front yard is defined as the open space on the same lot with a building used as a residence, between the front wall of the building and the line of that wall extended, the side property lines of the lot, and the front property line of the lot nearest the street on which the building fronts.(c)Front yard fences and walls on vacant lots. No fence or wall in the front yard of a vacant residential lot may be over 48 inches high. For the purposes of this subsection, the front yard is defined as the open space between the platted or established front building line, the side property lines of the lot, and the front property line of the lot nearest the street. The depth of a front yard of any vacant residential lot shall not be less than the least depth of the front yard of any existing improved residential property on the same side of the street within the same block.(d)Fences and walls on corner lots. No fence or wall in the front or side yard of a residential property may be over 48 inches high.

Source: KCMO Code Ch. 27 – MunicodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 139 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 38).

Full Breakdown

City code sets a flat 6-foot ceiling on any fence or wall on a residential lot. That ceiling drops hard in front yards: no fence or wall in a residential front yard, including on vacant lots, may top 48 inches. Corner lots get the same 48-inch cap extended to the side yard facing the second street, preserving sightlines at the intersection. The rules exempt building walls, below-grade retaining walls, and any fence built before March 20, 2000. Boulevard and parkway frontages follow separate standards in the zoning and development code.

Violations & Fines

Code enforcement can order a noncompliant fence altered or removed; the Board of Zoning Adjustment hears special-exception requests for a $174.00 filing fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can my backyard fence be in Kansas City?
Up to 6 feet on a residential lot, per City Code § 27-10(a): the front-yard and corner-lot limits are lower at 48 inches.
Why is my corner-lot fence limited to 4 feet?
Section 27-10(d) caps front and street-side yard fences on corner lots at 48 inches to keep sightlines clear at the intersection.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kansas City

All Kansas City rules

How Kansas City compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Kansas City to another location·View the Missouri fence regulations overview

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