Meridian, ID Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Electric wire fences
- Prohibited citywide
- Barbed wire
- Barred except in C-C, C-G, M-E, I-L, I-H
- Barbed wire clearance
- 6 feet above grade minimum
- Also banned
- Sheet metal, tarp, rotting/unsightly materials
- Permit
- Fence permit required to install
Summary
Meridian prohibits electric wire and barbed wire as fence components citywide, with a narrow commercial/industrial exception for barbed wire set high above grade.
No person shall install, keep, or allow to be installed or kept a fence which includes or incorporates, as any component: a. Electric wire. b. Barbed wire, except in the C-C, C-G, M-E, I-L, and I-H districts when such barbed wire is shown by the property owner to be necessary for securing the property, and the lowest barbed wire is located a minimum of six (6) feet above grade. c. Boxes, sheet metal, tarp, fabric, broken masonry blocks, rotting wood, or damaged, discarded, or unsightly materials.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
No fence in Meridian may incorporate electric wire as any component. Barbed wire is also barred except in the C-C, C-G, M-E, I-L, and I-H zoning districts, where a property owner may use it if shown necessary for security and the lowest strand sits at least six feet above grade. Fences also cannot use boxes, sheet metal, tarp, fabric, broken masonry, rotting wood, or other damaged or unsightly materials, or any protruding staple, spike, or barb that creates a safety hazard. A fence permit is required before installation.
Violations & Fines
A fence containing electric wire, unauthorized barbed wire, or prohibited unsightly materials is a code violation subject to enforcement by the Planning Division; the property owner must remove or replace the noncompliant fence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put barbed wire on a residential fence in Meridian?
Are electric fences allowed anywhere in Meridian?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Meridian
Compare Meridian to another location·View the Idaho fence regulations overview
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle material restrictions.