Kent County, DE Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

C(7) rather than a stand-alone fence chapter. The baseline principle is permissive: an otherwise lawful fence or wall is not barred by the chapter's setback lines, as long as it does not impair visibility at any access point to a public road. Ornamental fences and walls get specific height allowances tied to location. In the front or side setback, an ornamental fence or wall up to 4 feet tall may project into or enclose that setback to a depth equal to the required front setback depth, meaning it can run the full length of the yard so long as it stays under the 4-foot cap.

Away from the front and side setbacks, in other required setback areas such as the rear yard, ornamental fences and walls may rise to 7 feet without violating the setback rule. Patio homes are carved out of the 4-foot front and side allowance entirely, so patio-home lots follow a stricter standard set elsewhere in the district regulations. Corner lots carry an additional visibility rule independent of the general fence height allowance: no fence, wall, hedge, or planting taller than 2 feet, measured from the street surface at the nearest edge of pavement, may stand inside a triangular area formed by the intersecting street lines, with each side of that triangle measuring 25 feet from the point where the street lines would meet if extended.

Mature trees are exempt from the triangle rule as long as they stand more than 6 feet apart and all branches are trimmed to at least 6 feet above the ground.