Raleigh, NC Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Unlike some states, North Carolina does not have a statewide statute requiring adjoining landowners to share fence costs, so Raleigh defers to property law and civil remedies for neighbor-fence disputes. The Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) requires all fences to be constructed entirely within the property of the owner building them; a fence that encroaches across a boundary line may be subject to removal and legal claims by the adjoining owner. The City strongly recommends that homeowners obtain a boundary survey prior to installation to avoid disputes and encroachments. While not legally required, it is a long-standing regional custom in Raleigh that the finished, or smoother, side of a privacy fence faces outward toward the neighbor; many HOAs also require this in covenants. If a fence is built jointly on a shared boundary, the parties should execute a written agreement covering cost sharing, maintenance, and future repair or replacement. Disputes involving encroachment, damage, or removal are typically resolved in civil court or small claims court; Raleigh code enforcement does not mediate private boundary disputes. HOA covenants may impose additional rules on fence style, height, and placement that exceed the UDO minimums.