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Harrison County, MS Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

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

Key Facts

Prohibited materials
electrified, barbed wire, razor wire, stockade
Applies to
all zoning districts
Exception
agricultural or industrial use only
Enforcement
Cease and Desist Order, § 1409
Fine
up to $100/day

Summary

Unincorporated Harrison County prohibits electrified fencing, barbed wire, razor wire and stockade fences in every zoning district under Unified Development Code § 822.01(k). The only exception is fencing used in conjunction with an agricultural or industrial use, so a homeowner in a residential district cannot install any of these four fence types.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Harrison County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

k. Electrified, barbed wire, razor wire, and stockade fences are hereby prohibited in all zoning districts except when used in conjunction with an agricultural or industrial use.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

01), which apply to all fences built in the unincorporated area outside Gulfport, Biloxi, Long Beach, Pass Christian and D'Iberville. The rule reads as an outright material ban rather than a permit or setback condition: electrified fencing, barbed wire, razor wire and stockade fencing are 'hereby prohibited in all zoning districts,' with a single carve-out for fencing used in conjunction with an agricultural or industrial use. A rural lot zoned agricultural can still fence livestock with barbed wire, but the same fence around a house in a standard residential subdivision cannot.

01's fence standards, four-foot privacy fence limits in front yards, an eight-foot general maximum, and setback rules for taller street-facing fences, so a property owner replacing an old stockade or barbed-wire fence has to bring the whole installation into compliance with those companion provisions, not just swap materials. 01 as part of routine zoning enforcement, and a fence built with a prohibited material is treated as any other zoning violation under Article XIV.

Violations & Fines

Installing a prohibited electrified, barbed-wire, razor-wire or stockade fence outside an agricultural or industrial use is a zoning violation under UDC § 1409.01: the Zoning Officer can order the fence removed by written notice or Cease and Desist Order, and noncompliance draws a fine of up to $100 per day plus court costs for a continuing, knowing violation under § 1409.03.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put up a barbed-wire fence around my Harrison County home?
No. UDC § 822.01(k) prohibits barbed wire, along with electrified fencing, razor wire and stockade fences, in every zoning district in unincorporated Harrison County unless the fence is used with an agricultural or industrial use.
Is there any exception to the barbed-wire and electric fence ban?
Yes: fencing used in conjunction with an agricultural or industrial use is exempt under § 822.01(k). A farm fencing livestock in an agricultural district can use barbed wire; a house in a residential subdivision cannot.
What happens if I already have a stockade fence up?
It's still a violation of § 822.01(k) regardless of when it went up. The Zoning Officer can issue a Cease and Desist Order under § 1409.01, and continuing noncompliance carries a fine of up to $100 per day under § 1409.03.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Harrison County

All Harrison County rules

Compare Harrison County to another location·View the Mississippi fence regulations overview

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