Rockdale County, GA Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Section 214-6 of the Rockdale County Code sets the ground rules for every fence, wall and hedge built in the unincorporated county, including fences on the boundary line between neighboring lots. Clause (4) requires the finished side, the side without exposed framing or posts, to face the adjoining property rather than the builder's own yard, a rule the Department of Planning and Development checks during code enforcement complaints. The accompanying Table of Fence, Wall and Hedge Requirements lets an owner place a fence directly on or adjacent to a side or rear property line rather than set back from it, but the code adds its own caution: county planners recommend leaving space between the fence and the line for maintenance purposes and to avoid disputes with neighbors over ownership of the fence.

Height along interior side and rear lines tops out at 6 feet in the A-R, R-1, R-2 and most commercial districts and 8 feet in the M-1 and M-2 industrial districts, while a fence facing a street right-of-way is capped at 4 to 6 feet depending on zoning. Plastic slats and solid opaque fencing along a right-of-way are banned outright, and materials like scrap metal, plywood and exposed concrete block are prohibited everywhere. An owner who wants a taller fence can ask the director of planning and development for an administrative increase up to 150 percent of the district maximum under Section 238-14, and fences over 7 feet still need a building permit and inspection under the same section.