The City of Fairfax zoning ordinance prohibits barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fences in residential zones. Chain link is allowed in most zones but restricted in certain historic and Old Town overlay districts, where wood, masonry, or ornamental metal is required.
Fence material rules in the City of Fairfax combine a baseline zoning prohibition on dangerous materials with overlay district aesthetic requirements. Barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited in all residential zones and are allowed in industrial zones only above 6 feet on a supporting fence. Electrified fences are not permitted in residential zones at all. Chain link is allowed by right in most residential zones but is prohibited or strictly limited in the Old Town Fairfax historic district and similar overlay districts along Main Street and University Drive, where acceptable materials are typically wood picket, wood board, painted metal picket, or brick and stone masonry. The Historic District Review Board must approve any new fence in the historic district before installation. Vinyl and composite fences are allowed in standard residential zones but can be restricted by HOA covenants, especially in established neighborhoods where wood stockade or painted picket is the norm. Fence color is typically not regulated by the city except in overlay districts, but HOAs commonly require specific stains or paints. Finished side rules require the good side of a fence to face the adjoining property or street.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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See how Fairfax's material restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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