Detroit, MI Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard fence max
- 4 feet (3 feet if opaque)
- Side/rear yard fence max
- 6 feet
- General fence max
- 8 feet (12 ft industrial/commercial)
- Barbed wire
- banned on 1- and 2-family fences
- Enforcing agency
- Buildings, Safety Engineering & Environmental Dept
Summary
Detroit caps front yard fences at four feet (three if opaque) on single- and two-family lots, six feet on side and rear yards, and eight feet elsewhere under City Code § 50-14-381; barbed wire is barred on residential fences and razor wire is banned citywide.
Fences between adjoining lots and on streets, alleys, and easements shall not be less than two feet in height or more than eight feet in height, except fences enclosing industrial or commercial properties may be 12 feet in height; andb.Single- and two-family dwellings. Notwithstanding Subsection (4)a of this section, the height of any fence that abuts the front yard of a single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling shall not exceed four feet, except that opaque fences shall not exceed three feet, provided, that in the event a deed restriction or historic district provision, which specifies front yard fencing in excess of four feet in height, a higher fence may be erected as so specified or required. The height of any fence that abuts the side yards or rear yard of a single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling shall not exceed six feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Any fence built in Detroit must fit City Code § 50-14-381: front yard fences on single- and two-family lots top out at four feet (three feet if opaque, unless a deed restriction or historic district allows more), side and rear yard fences at six feet, and other lot-line, street, or alley fences at eight feet, or 12 feet around industrial and commercial property. Barbed wire cannot go on a single- or two-family fence, and razor wire is banned in every residential, business, and special zoning district. The Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department enforces these standards and keeps existing fences to the Property Maintenance Code good-repair rule.
Violations & Fines
Fences over the height cap, or with prohibited barbed or razor wire, are zoning code violations handled by the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department, which can order removal or modification and cite the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a front yard fence be in Detroit?
Is barbed wire or razor wire allowed on a residential fence in Detroit?
Which Detroit department handles fence rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
Compare Detroit to another location·View the Michigan fence regulations overview
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Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle fence permit requirements.