Fairfax County, VA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed wire
- Banned except 5+ acre rural lots
- Barbed wire exception use
- Storage yards, pools, similar uses
- Exception strand height
- Above 6 feet only
- Electric fences
- Banned on subdivision lots ≤2 acres
Summary
Fairfax County bans barbed wire fences countywide except on rural five-plus-acre lots, and bars electric fences on smaller subdivided lots.
1. Barbed wire fences are prohibited in all zoning districts except on lots of at least five acres in
the R-A, R-C, R-E, and R-1 Districts. However, barbed wire strands may be used to enclose storage yards, other similar industrial or commercial uses, or swimming pools where the strands are restricted to the uppermost portion of the fence and do not extend lower than a height of six feet.
2. Electric fences are not allowed on lots of two acres or less that are located within a
subdivision, as defined in Chapter 101 of the County Code, The Subdivision Ordinance.
(b) Height
1. Unless otherwise allowed by subsection 4102.7.A(7)(c) below, the maximum allowed height
for a fence or wall is as established in Table 4102.4: Maximum Allowed Fence or Wall Height.
Table 4102.4: Maximum Allowed Fence or Wall Height
Yard where Fence Location, Size, or Use of Lot Material Fence or Wall Composed of Maximum or Wall Located Allowed Height of
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published.
Full Breakdown
Barbed wire fences are prohibited in every zoning district except on lots of at least five acres in the R-A, R-C, R-E, and R-1 Districts, though barbed wire strands may top storage yards, similar industrial or commercial uses, or pool enclosures if kept above six feet. Electric fences are barred on subdivision lots of two acres or less.
Violations & Fines
Installing a barred fence material is a zoning infraction: $200 civil penalty for the first violation, $500 for each subsequent violation from the same facts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put barbed wire on my fence in Fairfax County?
Are electric fences allowed on a residential lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fairfax County
Compare Fairfax County to another location·View the Virginia fence regulations overview
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