Washtenaw County does not zone fences; the city or township does. In Ann Arbor (county seat), residential fences may not exceed 4 ft in the front yard, 6 ft in a side yard, and 8 ft in the rear yard.
Michigan land use runs under the Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3101), which lets cities and townships—not the county—regulate fences. Ann Arbor's Unified Development Code (Chapter 55) Section 5.26 sets residential fence heights: 4 ft front (max 50% opacity), 6 ft side (max 80% opacity), and 8 ft rear. Nonresidential fences may reach 12 ft in the front required setback. Ypsilanti and each township adopt their own limits, so confirm your specific jurisdiction before building. Heights along a shared lot line are measured from the highest grade within two feet of that line.
A fence exceeding these limits is a zoning-code violation; the city can order removal or lowering. A zoning permit is required before construction.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Washtenaw County, MI
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Washtenaw County, MI
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Washtenaw County, MI
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Washtenaw County, MI
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Washtenaw County, MI
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Washtenaw County, MI
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See how Washtenaw County's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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