Virginia Beach, VA Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Under the City Zoning Ordinance, fences and walls generally max out at 8 feet, but any fence enclosing a required front yard, or a street-facing side yard within 10 feet of the right-of-way, is capped at 4 feet, with an exception letting through-lot rear-facing fences reach 8 feet. No fence or wall may sit closer than 5 feet to a right-of-way line, and Category I landscaping is required where a fence sits within 10 feet of one. Barbed wire and electrified fencing are banned in residential and apartment districts (and within 15 feet of them). Fences within 30 feet of a right-of-way, or over 30 inches tall in a driveway visibility triangle, need a $50 permit from the Planning Department before installation.