DeKalb County, GA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned everywhere
- Concrete block, tires, pallets, railroad ties, loose stone, vinyl
- Front-yard materials
- Brick, stone, wood, wrought iron or simulated wrought iron
- Chain link
- Prohibited in front yards
- Exception
- M and M-2 industrial districts
Summary
DeKalb County bans fences and freestanding walls made of exposed common concrete block, tires, junk, pallets, railroad ties, loose stone or vinyl anywhere in the county, and front yards face a stricter list: only brick, stone, wood, wrought iron or a material simulating wrought iron is allowed, with chain link shut out of front yards in every district except M and M-2.
No freestanding walls or fences may be composed of exposed common concrete block, tires, junk, pallets, railroad ties, loose stone, vinyl and other discarded materials. ... freestanding walls or fences erected within the front yard shall be constructed of brick, stone, wood, wrought iron, or material simulating wrought iron. Any other material, including but not limited to, chain link and other wire fences are prohibited in the front yards of all districts, with the exception of M and M-2 zoning districts.
Full Breakdown
The material rules in DeKalb's zoning ordinance work in layers. 5 applies to every freestanding wall or fence in the county: it may not be composed of exposed common concrete block, tires, junk, pallets, railroad ties, loose stone, vinyl or other discarded materials. The catchall phrase, other discarded materials, signals what the list is aimed at, fencing improvised from salvage, though vinyl appears on the banned list in its own right. 6 then adds a stricter, approved-list rule for front yards only: a freestanding wall or fence erected within the front yard shall be constructed of brick, stone, wood, wrought iron, or material simulating wrought iron, and any other material is prohibited there.
The section names chain link and other wire fences specifically as barred from the front yards of all districts, with a single carve-out for the M and M-2 zoning districts. 5 banned list, chain link included, while a front-yard fence must come from the short approved list unless the property sits in an M or M-2 district.
Violations & Fines
Installing a freestanding wall or fence from a banned material anywhere in the county, or putting a chain-link or other wire fence in a front yard outside the M and M-2 districts, violates Section 5.4.7.A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a chain-link fence in my front yard in DeKalb County?
Are pallet or tire fences allowed in DeKalb County?
Do the banned materials apply to backyard fences too?
Which districts escape the front-yard wire ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DeKalb County
Compare DeKalb County to another location·View the Georgia fence regulations overview
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