The Wake County UDO permits boundary fences to be located in any required yard, and prohibits sight-obstructing or partially obstructing walls, fences, foliage, berming, parked vehicles, or signs between 24 inches and 8 feet above curb-line elevation at street and driveway intersections. NC common-law treats a boundary fence as the joint property of both abutting landowners.
Wake County does not have a state or county fence-maintenance statute equivalent to California's "good neighbor" law — boundary disputes are governed by NC common law. Under NCGS Ch. 38A (Survey of Lands) either landowner can demand a formal survey to establish the property line before fencing. Fences placed astride the line are joint property; either neighbor must consent to alteration. The UDO's sight-distance rule applies on a corner lot at the intersection of two streets or where a driveway meets a street: the triangular area is measured from the point of intersection along both rights-of-way, and nothing rising between 24 inches and 8 feet above curb-line elevation is permitted there. Spite-fence claims in NC are evaluated as private nuisance under common law; there is no statutory spite-fence cap.
Sight-triangle violations are zoning violations enforced by Wake County Code Enforcement; the typical remedy is an order to remove or lower the obstruction. Boundary disputes proceed in Wake County District Court (or Superior Court for ejectment). Removing or damaging a neighbor's fence without consent can be civil trespass and a Class 3 misdemeanor under NCGS §14-128 (injury to fences).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Wake County, NC
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Wake County, NC
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Wake County, NC
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Wake County, NC
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Wake County, NC
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Wake County, NC
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