Sumner County, TN Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Section 1101, Subsection B(4) of the Zoning Resolution lists six categories of prohibited fencing that apply across the unincorporated county. Barbed wire, razor wire, and concertina wire are barred outright, with a narrow carve-out for agricultural use, non-residentially zoned property, or fencing serving a public institution's safety or special services. Fences carrying electrical current are likewise prohibited except when used to enclose livestock for an agricultural purpose, so an electric pet-containment fence around a suburban yard does not qualify for that exception. Readily flammable fencing materials such as paper, cloth, or canvas are banned, though the Resolution carves out temporary fencing required by law, such as construction-site silt fencing for erosion control.

Solid plywood, scrap lumber, and other insubstantial, non-customary materials cannot be used for a permanent fence or wall, and common concrete block or cinderblock walls are prohibited unless finished with a masonry material such as stucco or stone veneer, so a bare cinderblock wall fails inspection even if it meets height limits. A final material rule bars any fence, wall, or hedge from standing on public right-of-way, except one erected by a government agency. Combined, Subsection B(4) is a materials-based screen that operates independently of the height limits in Subsection B(1): a fence can meet the 8-foot cap and still be rejected if it is built from a prohibited material.