New Castle County, DE Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height, residential
- 6 feet
- Street yard in NC5-NC15
- 4 feet
- Max on sloped ground
- 7 feet at posts
- Nonresidential max height
- 8 feet (9 on slope)
- Banned materials
- barbed/razor wire, sheet metal, plywood
Summary
Fences on residential lots in New Castle County top out at 6 feet, drop to 4 feet in the street yard in the NC5-NC15 zoning districts, and must use approved materials.
E. Fences. Fences are permissible in all yards and all yard setbacks, subject to the following regulations. 1. Maximum height. Fences must be no more than six (6) feet in height, except as otherwise set forth herein. In zoning designations NC5, NC6.5, NC10, and NC15, the maximum permissible fence height in the street yard is four (4) feet. 2. Approved fencing material. Fences must be constructed of approved materials, including: wood, brick, decorative masonry, stone, wrought iron, manufactured vinyl, aluminum, and PVC fence material.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
The Unified Development Code caps residential fences at 6 feet, except in NC5, NC6.5, NC10, and NC15 zoning districts, where street-yard fences are limited to 4 feet. On sloped ground the panels and posts can run up to 7 feet measured from the ground. Approved materials are wood, brick, decorative masonry, stone, wrought iron, manufactured vinyl, aluminum, and PVC. Sheet or corrugated metal, plywood, concrete masonry unit block (except as a retaining wall), and barbed or razor wire are all banned for fence construction. Corner-lot fences must respect the visibility triangle, fences in a floodplain need a floodplain permit under Article 10, and owners must keep fences structurally sound and free of decay or disrepair. In nonresidential zoning districts the cap rises to 8 feet (9 feet on sloped ground). This chapter governs unincorporated New Castle County; Wilmington and Newark are incorporated cities that enforce their own separate zoning codes, not this one.
Violations & Fines
Code Enforcement can order a noncompliant or dilapidated fence repaired, replaced, or removed as a Unified Development Code violation; barbed/razor wire or banned materials trigger the same correction process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a taller fence in New Castle County?
Does this apply inside Wilmington or Newark?
Is barbed wire allowed on a residential fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Castle County
How New Castle County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare New Castle County to another location·View the Delaware fence regulations overview
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