Guilford County, NC Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed/razor wire
- Banned except ag livestock enclosures
- Electrified fencing
- Banned except low-voltage industrial use
- Concertina wire
- Banned in every district
- Flammable materials
- Paper, cloth, canvas fencing banned
- Low-voltage fence cap
- 12 volts, 10 ft max height
- Barbed-wire topping minimum
- 6 ft above grade, 30-degree slant
Summary
Guilford County bans barbed or razor wire, electrified fencing, concertina wire and flammable materials like paper, cloth or canvas for fences, but carves out exceptions for livestock enclosures in agricultural districts, low-voltage electrified fencing in industrial districts, and barbed-topped security fencing at public institutions, under UDO Section 6.4.B.2.
2. Prohibited Fence Types The following fence types are prohibited:
a. Fences constructed primarily of barbed or razor wire, except for the purpose of enclosing livestock in agricultural zoning districts, and fences topped with barbed wire or metal spikes in residential zoning districts, except those serving a public institution requiring a security fence for public safety purposes;
b. Fences carrying electrical current, except for the purpose of enclosing livestock in agricultural zoning districts; or as allowed in Subsection C- General Fence Requirements;
c. Fences constructed in whole or in part of readily flammable material such as paper, cloth or canvas;
d. Fences constructed of concertina wire.
Full Breakdown
2 lists four prohibited fence types. Barbed or razor wire is banned except to enclose livestock in agricultural zoning districts, and topping a residential fence with barbed wire or metal spikes is banned unless it serves a public institution's security needs. Electrified fencing is banned except for livestock enclosures in agricultural districts or as allowed under the General Fence Requirements. Fences built wholly or partly of readily flammable material such as paper, cloth or canvas are banned outright, as is any fence made of concertina wire.
5 still requires the bottom strand to sit at least six feet above grade with vertical supports slanted at least 30 degrees. 6 opens a narrow path for low-voltage electrified fencing, capped at 12 volts, in the Light Industrial and Heavy Industrial districts only, provided the electrified fence tops out at 10 feet, is enclosed by a non-electrified fence or wall at least six feet high, sits at least six inches from that outer fence, carries a warning sign at least every 50 linear feet, and, optionally, includes a Knox Box the fire department can use for access.
D treats any fence that endangers a person, animal or property as a nuisance, letting the Enforcement Officer order the owner to repair, replace or demolish it regardless of what material it is built from.
Violations & Fines
Installing a banned fence type, or an electrified fence outside the narrow industrial exception, is enforced under UDO Sections 10.04 through 10.06: the Enforcement Officer can order removal through a Notice of Violation, and civil penalties run from $50 for a first offense to $500 by the fourth, with continued refusal chargeable as a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4 punishable by up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail. A fence found to be a safety nuisance under Section 6.4.D can be ordered repaired, replaced or torn down separately from any penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put barbed wire on my fence in unincorporated Guilford County?
Is an electric fence legal on my property?
Can a construction site use a temporary chain-link fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Guilford County
Compare Guilford County to another location·View the North Carolina fence regulations overview
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