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Concord, NC Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Barbed wire fences
Prohibited in all zone districts
Above-ground electrified fences
Prohibited citywide
Underground pet-containment wire
Permitted
Front-yard chain-link/metal-slat
Barred outside Industrial districts
First-offense penalty
$100 per day after 7-day warning
Repeat-offense penalty
$300 per day, same property, 36 months

Summary

Concord's Development Ordinance bans barbed wire and above-ground electrified fencing in every zoning district citywide, covering residential yards along with commercial and industrial parcels. Underground pet-containment wire stays legal because it carries no exposed shock hazard. Front-yard chain-link and metal-slat fencing is also barred outside Industrial districts unless the owner proves a security need.

B. BARBED WIRE AND ABOVE GROUND ELECTRIFIED FENCES PROHIBITED - Barbed wire fences and above ground electrified fences are prohibited in all zone districts. Underground electric fences designed for control of domestic animals are permitted.

View official code

Full Breakdown

The Concord Development Ordinance's Prohibited Fences standard, found in the outdoor-storage and screening chapter of Article 8, applies citywide rather than to any single district. B, barbed wire fences and above-ground electrified fences 'are prohibited in all zone districts,' though underground electric fences built to contain domestic animals stay legal because they present no above-ground shock risk. A). C). Elsewhere in the same fencing standards, the CDO requires customary construction materials, such as solid wood, brick, masonry, or stone, wherever a screening fence or wall is required, and mandates that fences be kept in good repair, replacing decayed or broken sections and correcting any post or panel that leans more than twenty degrees from vertical. A-B).

Violations & Fines

Concord's Code Enforcement Unit, part of the Police Department, issues a written notice of violation with a seven-day warning period once a prohibited fence is identified. If it is not removed or corrected, a first offense draws a $100 civil penalty per day it remains; a repeat violation on the same property within 36 months carries an immediate $300-per-day penalty, collectible as a debt through the General Court of Justice (§ 1.5.5.A-B).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install a barbed wire fence around my Concord property?
No. Concord Development Ordinance § 8.3.6.H.6.B prohibits barbed wire fences in every zoning district citywide, including residential lots. The ban applies regardless of lot size or location, and there is no security-plan exception for barbed wire the way there is for chain-link fencing in Industrial districts.
Are electric fences allowed for pets in Concord?
Yes, with a limit. The ordinance prohibits above-ground electrified fences but specifically permits underground electric fences designed to control domestic animals, since the wire is buried and poses no shock hazard to passersby. Above-ground electrified wire, even around livestock, is not allowed anywhere in the city.
What happens if I don't remove a prohibited fence after a warning?
The Code Enforcement Unit issues a notice with a seven-day warning period. After that, a first offense costs $100 per day the violation continues, and the City can sue to collect the penalty as a debt if the fence is still up on day 21 (§ 1.5.5.A).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Concord

Height LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Rainwater HarvestingSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome Restrictions

All Concord rules

Compare Concord to another location·View the North Carolina fence regulations overview

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