Hampton, VA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- BB-1 through BB-5 only
- Permitted materials
- Wood, wrought iron, brick, stone
- Banned materials
- Chain link, barbed wire, vinyl
- Elsewhere in city
- No material restriction, § 1-18(1)
Summary
In Hampton's Buckroe Bayfront BB-1 through BB-5 districts, fences must be wood picket, wrought iron, brick, stone, or a natural fence; chain link, barbed wire, vinyl, and plain wire mesh are banned in the district's own architectural standards.
(d)Permitted material and design shall be the following;(i)Wood: picket fences with corner posts.(ii)Wrought iron: vertical, five-eighths-inch minimum dimension, four-inch to six-inch spacing.(iii)Brick.(iv)Stone.(v)Natural fences.(3)A fence, screen, wall, natural fence, hedge, or thick growth of shrubs or trees may be located in any zoning district on vacant property owned by the City of Hampton or a political subdivision of the commonwealth.(4)A fence, screen, wall, natural fence, hedge, or thick growth of shrubs or trees shall comply with section 1-17, Vision clearance of corner lots.(5)No fence, screen, wall, natural fence, hedge, or thick growth of shrubs or trees shall project or encroach into a City right-of-way or easement without the written permission of the City of Hampton or an approved encroachment agreement pursuant to chapter 34 of the City Code, as amended.(6)A fence, screen or wall is considered impervious area for purposes of Chapter 9, Article II, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Overlay. (Ord. No. Z18-8, 5-9-2018; Ord. No. Z20-15, 7-8-2020)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Hampton Zoning Ordinance § 1-18(2)(d) limits fences in the BB-1 through BB-5 (Buckroe Bayfront) districts to five permitted types: wood picket fencing with corner posts, wrought iron (five-eighths-inch minimum members, four- to six-inch spacing), brick, stone, or natural fences. The Buckroe Bayfront district's own architectural standards, § 8-22(4)(d)(v), separately bar fences made of chain link, barbed wire, vinyl, plain wire mesh, or coated chain link anywhere in that district. These material rules apply only inside the mapped Buckroe Bayfront district; the rest of the city's residential districts (R, MD, RT) regulate fence height under § 1-18(1) but do not restrict fence material.
Violations & Fines
A fence built with prohibited chain-link, barbed-wire, vinyl, or wire-mesh material in the Buckroe Bayfront district is a zoning violation, enforced under § 1-11 with misdemeanor fines up to $1,000 for a first offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a chain-link fence in Buckroe Bayfront?
Does Hampton restrict fence material outside Buckroe Bayfront?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hampton
Compare Hampton to another location·View the Virginia fence regulations overview
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