Parma, OH Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted types
- Picket, ranch, basketweave, stockade, board-on-board, chain link
- Wire mesh limit
- Openings no larger than 3 inches
- Prohibited
- Individual strand wire fences
- Electrified fences
- Banned unless compliant with Section 1529.231
- Masonry walls
- Require Planning Commission approval
Summary
Parma allows picket, ranch, split-rail, basketweave, stockade, board-on-board and chain link fencing in residential districts, plus masonry walls with Planning Commission approval, but bans wire mesh fences with openings over three inches, individual strand-wire fences, and electrified fences unless they meet the City's separate electrified-fence code.
Permitted fences in all residence districts shall include the following types: picket, ranch (including split-rail and western-rail), basketweave, stockade, board-on-board and chain link, which may include metal, plastic, vinyl or fiberglass inserts, and electrified fences to be in compliance with Section 1529.231... Prohibited fences include wire mesh fences which have openings between the wires of larger than three inches, individual strand-type wire fences, and electrified fences, unless in compliance with Section 1529.231.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-30: Local legislation current to August 3, 2026 | State legislation current to June 25, 2025).
Full Breakdown
23(a)(1) lists the fence types residential property owners may install: picket, ranch (including split-rail and western-rail), basketweave, stockade, board-on-board and chain link, including chain link with metal, plastic, vinyl or fiberglass inserts. Masonry walls of brick, random stone, ashlar or decorative block are also permitted but only with City Planning Commission approval. 231. 04, and both an electrical permit and a fence permit before installation, with the application including a site plan, fence details and electrical wiring diagrams meeting Article 250 of the National Electrical Code.
23 also bars installing any new fence directly along another fence already sitting on the same property line shared with an abutting owner, so a homeowner cannot double up fencing on a boundary a neighbor has already fenced.
Violations & Fines
Installing a prohibited fence type, such as small-gauge wire mesh, loose strand wire, or an electrified fence without the required protective barrier and dual permits, is treated as a Building Code violation the Building Commissioner can order removed or brought into compliance before any occupancy or final inspection sign-off proceeds. Electrified fences installed without the Section 1529.231 electrical and fence permits are non-compliant regardless of the barrier used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chain link fencing allowed in Parma?
Can I install a wire mesh fence in Parma?
Are electric fences legal in a Parma backyard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Parma
Compare Parma to another location·View the Ohio fence regulations overview
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle material restrictions.