Aiken County, SC Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

This rule governs fences and walls used as a substitute for a required bufferyard, the landscaped buffer Aiken County requires between certain differing land uses, not every backyard fence countywide. Under Sec. 8(2), a six-foot-high fence or wall may substitute for a type 1 or 2 bufferyard, and an eight-foot fence or wall may substitute for a type 3 or 4 bufferyard, with the planning and development director approving the substitution. Every fence or wall used this way must have its finished side facing outward toward the abutting property, and fences must be wooden or another durable, opaque material the director approves.

Wood fences must use rot-resistant species such as locust, cedar, or redwood; if another wood species is used, the posts must be rated for soil contact and the boards rated for outdoor exposure. The code is explicit that chain-link fencing fitted with wood, plastic, or metal privacy strips is expressly prohibited as a bufferyard substitute, though a plain chain-link fence paired with an evergreen hedge is acceptable. Walls, as opposed to fences, must be masonry, specifically poured concrete, concrete block covered with stucco, or brick.

Berms can also be used instead of a fence or wall, or combined with one to reach the required total height. Sec. 9 separately makes ongoing maintenance of these bufferyard fences and walls the property owner's responsibility, and failing to maintain them is itself a violation of chapter 24.