Shelby, NC Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Material banned
- Barbed wire fencing
- Where it applies
- Lots along a street or alley
- Violation class
- Misdemeanor (G.S. 14-4)
- Source
- Code 1985, § 19-15
Summary
Shelby prohibits erecting or maintaining barbed wire fencing on any lot that borders a city street or alley, cutting barbed wire out of the allowed fence-material list for street-facing property.
No person shall erect, maintain or allow on any premises along any street or alley of the city any barbed wire or barbed wire fence.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 40-13 of the city code, no one may erect, maintain, or allow barbed wire or a barbed wire fence on premises fronting a street or alley within Shelby. The rule targets material, not height or placement generally, and applies specifically to street- and alley-adjacent lots rather than every fence citywide. It dates back to the city's 1985 code recodification and sits in Chapter 40 alongside the city's other street-frontage rules, including the separate requirement (Sec. 40-12) that steep drop-off lots along a street install a secure railing or fence.
Violations & Fines
Violating a city ordinance is a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4; code enforcement can also require removal or replacement of a noncompliant barbed wire fence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a barbed wire fence in my backyard, away from the street?
Does the ordinance say what fence material I must use instead?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shelby
Compare Shelby to another location·View the North Carolina fence regulations overview
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