Fairfax County, VA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Fence and wall heights in Fairfax County are governed by the Zoning Ordinance under accessory and yard regulations (Article 4, accessory uses and structures, with related lot and bulk regulations under Article 5, Sec. 5100). On most residential lots a fence or wall in the front yard is capped at 4 feet, and side and rear yard fences may reach 7 feet. On lots of two or more acres in the R-A through R-1 districts, fences up to 7 feet are permitted in any yard. Solid wood, masonry, or composite walls may rise to 8 feet in a rear yard that abuts a major thoroughfare or where a side or rear lot line is within 150 feet of a major thoroughfare and abuts dedicated open space. With a Board of Zoning Appeals special permit, the front-yard maximum may be increased to 6 feet. Within the sight distance triangle at street intersections, fences are capped at 42 inches to preserve visibility. On corner lots, both yards between the principal building and the intersecting streets are treated as front yards. Virginia Code Sec. 15.2-2280 provides counties the general authority to adopt these zoning regulations.