Montgomery, AL Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- General fence height cap
- 7 feet
- R-20-t/R-24-t/PGH-35/40 cap
- 8 feet
- Front/street-side yard cap
- 3 feet
- Corner visibility zone
- Within 20 feet of intersection
- Blocked height range at corners
- 3.5 to 15 feet
- Height measured from
- Lowest ground elevation at property line
Summary
Montgomery caps fences and walls on office or residential lots at seven feet (eight feet in the R-20-t, R-24-t, PGH-35 and PGH-40 districts), dropping to three feet in any required front or street-side yard. Near street corners, sight-blocking fences between 3.5 and 15 feet tall are barred within 20 feet of the intersection.
Sec. 2. - Corner visibility in all districts except B-1-a, B-1-b, B-2 and M-3. In all districts except as noted above, no fence, wall, shrubbery, sign, marquee or other obstruction to vision between the heights of 3½ feet and 15 feet above street level shall be permitted within 20 feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of two streets or railroads or of a street and a railroad right-of-way line. Sec. 7. - Fences and walls. Fences and walls may be erected, placed, maintained or grown along a lot line of property zoned for office or residential use, or adjacent thereto a height not exceeding seven feet above the ground except in an R-20-t, R-24-t, PGH-35 and PGH-40 districts, where an eight-foot height limit shall be permitted, provided the main structure has yard space as required by this ordinance, except that no such fence or wall located in a required front or street side yard shall exceed a height of three feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Article VI, Sec. 7 of the zoning ordinance (City Code App. C) sets Montgomery's general fence and wall height limit at seven feet along or near a lot line zoned office or residential, rising to eight feet only in the R-20-t, R-24-t, PGH-35 and PGH-40 districts, provided the main structure carries its required yard space. Inside any required front yard or street-side yard, though, the limit drops to three feet regardless of district. The ordinance measures wall height from the lowest ground elevation on either side of the shared property line, so a fence on sloped ground is measured from its lower side.
Separately, Article VI, Sec. 5 feet and 15 feet above street level is allowed within 20 feet of where two streets, or a street and a railroad, intersect. Together the two sections mean a residential corner lot faces the tightest limits: a three-foot cap in the street-side yard plus a clear sight triangle at the intersection itself. The administrative official enforces both provisions, and a property owner seeking relief must apply to the board of adjustment under Article III for a variance.
Violations & Fines
A fence or wall that exceeds the applicable height limit, or that blocks the corner sight triangle, violates the zoning ordinance and is punishable under Article II, Sec. 5 as provided in City Code § 1-6, with each day of the violation a separate offense. The administrative official or an affected neighboring property owner may seek an injunction or other court action under Article II, Sec. 6 to force a fence's removal or reduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Montgomery?
Can I build a solid fence at a street corner in Montgomery?
How is fence height measured on a sloped lot in Montgomery?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery
How Montgomery compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Montgomery to another location·View the Alabama fence regulations overview
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