Chatham County, GA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- County front and side yard
- 6 feet maximum
- County rear yard
- 8 feet maximum
- Pool/recreation security fence
- Up to 10 feet (setback)
- Savannah front yard
- 4 feet (NewZO)
- Code section
- County Sec. 5-1.3(a)
Summary
In unincorporated Chatham County, residential walls and fences may not exceed 6 feet in front and side yards or 8 feet in rear yards. Inside the City of Savannah, the NewZO caps most residential fences at 4 feet in the front yard and 8 feet in rear and interior side
Height: Within residential districts, walls and fences shall not exceed six feet in height in front and side yards, nor eight feet in height in rear yards.
Full Breakdown
The Chatham County Zoning Ordinance, administered jointly with Savannah by the Metropolitan Planning Commission under O.C.G.A. Title 36, Chapter 66, sets fence heights for the unincorporated county in Sec. 5-1.3(a): within any residential ('R') district a wall or fence may not exceed 6 feet in front and side yards, nor 8 feet in rear yards. Security fences for pools or tennis courts may reach 10 feet if set back one foot per foot over 6 feet and located in a rear yard. Inside the City of Savannah, the unified NewZO (Sec. 9.6) instead limits front-yard fences to 4 feet (6 feet if the portion above 3 feet is at least 70% open) and rear/interior side yards to 8 feet.
Violations & Fines
Over-height fences violate the zoning ordinance and are enforced by the Zoning Administrator/MPC. The county can deny a permit, issue a stop-work order, require removal, and pursue citations with fines until the fence complies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in unincorporated Chatham County?
Are the rules different inside Savannah?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chatham County
How Chatham County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Chatham County to another location·View the Georgia fence regulations overview
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