Roanoke, VA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Sec. 2-410(b)(4) of the Zoning Ordinance sets Roanoke's fence material rules for barbed and razor wire, alongside a related standard in Sec. 2-410(b)(2) governing solid versus open fence types. Under (b)(4)(A), barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited outright in every residential district in the city, with a single carve-out: barbed wire is allowed in the Residential Agriculture (RA) district specifically to contain animals associated with an agricultural operation, such as livestock fencing on a farm parcel. Outside residential areas, (b)(4)(B) permits barbed wire or razor wire on top of a wall or fence in any multiple-purpose district, industrial district, or planned unit development, but only if four conditions are all met: the wall or fence underneath is at least 6 feet tall; the wire is mounted on arms or brackets angled inward over the property (or, if angled outward, the arms and wire do not project over a public right-of-way or public access); no more than three strands of barbed wire are installed; and the first strand sits at least 6 inches above the top of the wall or fence face.

Separately, Sec. 2-410(b)(2) restricts fence type in the required front-facing zone between the building line and the street: a fence there cannot be solid unless another chapter provision requires it, and it must instead be lattice, open wire, or another design that is at least 25% open, keeping street-facing yards from being walled off entirely.