Franklin, TN Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Franklin Zoning Ordinance Section 13.1.6 (Materials) provides: 'Fences shall be constructed of any combination of treated wood posts, pickets, rot-resistant wood (such as cypress or redwood), or metal,' and 'Posts or columns shall be constructed of wood, brick, natural stone, cultured stone, or other masonry materials.' For nonresidential uses: 'Fences serving nonresidential uses shall have masonry columns every 50 feet on-center or less.' The chain-link restriction is explicit: 'Chain link fencing and chain link gates are not permitted, except in the LI and HI districts' with required dark green or black vinyl coating. In the LI district, chain link is also prohibited in front yards. The agricultural exception reads: 'Wire fences or above-ground electrified fences for the control of livestock shall be permitted only within the AG district.' Together these provisions effectively ban barbed wire, razor wire, and any above-ground electrified fence in all districts other than AG. Inside the Downtown Historic Overlay and Conservation Districts, additional Historic Zoning Commission review applies, and a Certificate of Appropriateness is required before a building permit can be issued. Retaining wall materials are separately regulated under Section 13.2 (Retaining Walls) and must be finished with brick, natural stone, or cultured stone (with stained/stamped concrete or split-face block allowed only on faces not visible from public streets, private streets, internal drives, or open spaces).