Medford, OR Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed wire limit
- Prohibited below 6 feet from ground
- Electrified fencing
- Prohibited except under § 9.561 permit
- Governing section
- Medford Code § 9.560
- Hazardous material ban
- Broken glass, embedded barbs prohibited
- Height permit trigger
- 7-8 ft depending on fence type
Summary
Medford's fence ordinance bans electrified fencing outside a permitted process, low barbed wire under six feet, and broken glass or hazardous embedded material on any fence or wall. Section 9.560 sets these prohibitions and layers on building permit requirements for tall fences and any electrified fence.
Pursuant to and in conformance with Medford Code Sections 10.731 through 10.733, the following shall be prohibited: (1) Electrified fencing, except as regulated by Section 9.561; (2) Barbed wire, except at a level of six feet or more from the ground; (3) Broken glass, barbs or similar hazardous material imbedded in the fence or wall.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-32, passed May 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
" Barbed wire is not banned outright, it is only unlawful below the six-foot mark, so a fence topped with barbed wire at or above six feet from grade is allowed while a lower installation is not. 561, which restricts electrified fences to specific commercial and industrial zones (C-C, C-H, I-L, I-G, I-H) or livestock-control uses, bars them entirely from the Central Business overlay, Liberty Park and Southeast plan areas, and every single-family and multi-family residential zone, caps voltage at non-lethal levels under IEC Standard 60335-2-76, and requires a Building Safety Department permit plus Fire Department inspection before energizing.
560 also folds in permit thresholds tied to height: "All new commercial fences exceeding seven feet in height; eight feet in height for residential chainlink fencing; and seven feet for other fencing types, including replacing existing fences, require a building permit with the fee based on the valuation and current City of Medford fee schedule," and any electrified fence separately requires an electrical permit.
Violations & Fines
Installing a prohibited fence material, or an electrified fence outside Section 9.561's zone, voltage, and permit rules, is enforced under Section 9.660's Building Code violation scheme: a Notice of Civil Violation, a correction period, and then an administrative civil penalty of up to $5,000, or $1,000 per day for a continuing violation, appealable to the Unified Appeal Board within ten business days under Section 9.662.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is barbed wire allowed on a residential fence in Medford?
Can I install an electric fence around my property?
Can I embed broken glass on top of my fence for security?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medford
Compare Medford to another location·View the Oregon fence regulations overview
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