Louisville Metro LDC sets fence heights by location and form district. Front yards allow 42 inches (Traditional) or 48 inches (Suburban). Side and rear yards allow up to 8 feet for privacy fences or 6 feet for see-through fences. Fences within 5 feet of a sidewalk are measured from the sidewalk elevation.
Fence height limits in Louisville Metro are established by the Land Development Code (LDC) Chapter 4 and Form District regulations. Front yard and street-side yard fences are limited to 42 inches in Traditional Form Districts and 48 inches in Suburban Form Districts. Side and rear yard privacy fences (mostly opaque, solid material) can reach 8 feet; see-through fences (chain-link, wrought iron, etc.) are limited to 6 feet in side and rear yards. Fences beyond required setbacks may be as tall as the maximum building height. Heights are measured from the nearest sidewalk or roadway pavement for fences within 5 feet of a public sidewalk or roadway. Within vision clearance zones (corners, intersections), no structure may exceed 2 feet above the nearest curb level. On corner lots, the 'front' is the shortest side abutting a public street.
Fences exceeding height limits violate the LDC. Code Enforcement can order the fence reduced to legal height. Fines and potential liens for noncompliance. Height variances available through LDC Section 4.4.3 process.
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