The Chesterfield County Planning Department does not require a zoning permit to install a residential fence. A building permit is required only when the fence serves as a swimming pool barrier.
For an ordinary residential fence, Chesterfield County does not issue a zoning or planning permit; you simply must meet the height and location standards in Zoning Ordinance Section 19.2-39. The one exception is a fence used as a required pool barrier: because that fence is a life-safety enclosure under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, a building permit and inspection are required. Even without a permit, fences must sit on your own property, stay clear of recorded easements and drainage, and respect corner-lot sight-distance triangles. If unsure, call Building Inspection at 804-748-1057 or Planning at 804-748-1050 before you build.
Building a noncompliant fence, or a pool barrier without the required building permit, can trigger stop-work orders, correction notices, and civil penalties until brought into compliance.
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Chesterfield County, VA
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