Lexington, KY Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

The LFUCG Zoning Ordinance restricts fence materials based on zoning district. In residential zones (R-1 through R-5), allowed materials include wood, vinyl, wrought iron, chain link, masonry, and composite. Barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fences are prohibited in residential and commercial zones. In the Agricultural Rural (A-R) and Agricultural Urban (A-U) zones that make up most of the Rural Service Area outside the Urban Service Boundary, traditional four-board plank fences, post-and-rail, woven wire, and electric fencing are permitted for livestock containment and are iconic features of Fayette County thoroughbred farms such as Calumet, Claiborne, and Darley America. The Kentucky Horse Breeders Incentive Fund supports agricultural preservation and the black-plank fence aesthetic is protected in many Rural Land Management Plans. In historic overlay districts (Gratz Park, Woodward Heights, South Hill), the Board of Architectural Review must approve fence materials, and chain link is generally prohibited in street-facing locations. Retaining walls over 4 feet require engineering and a building permit.