Charles County, MD Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Charles County's zoning ordinance sets the permit trigger at a specific height rather than requiring a permit for every fence. Under § 297-27B(4), fences and walls up to and including seven feet in height above ground elevation may be built without a building permit. Once a fence or wall exceeds seven feet, the property owner must obtain a building permit specifically covering the installation of the support footings, reflecting the county's concern with structural stability at greater heights rather than the fence material or location.

This threshold sits above the ordinary height caps that apply in most yards (four feet in front yards, eight feet in rear and side yards under § 297-27B(1) and (2)), so in practice the permit trigger mainly reaches taller security fencing for business, industrial, or institutional uses, which § 297-27B(3) caps at ten feet, and tennis court enclosures, which may reach twelve feet. This provision was added to the code by Bill No. 2021-02 on 9-21-2021, clarifying what had previously been an ambiguous permitting gap for taller fences.

Homeowners planning a fence near or above seven feet should confirm footing design with the Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management before construction begins, since footing depth and design are the specific elements the permit review addresses.