Fairfax, VA Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

The permit trigger for fences in the City of Fairfax follows the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Residential fences up to and including 7 feet in height do not require a building permit from Code Administration, but they must still comply with the city zoning ordinance, including setback from property lines, height caps by yard, sight-distance rules at corners, and HOA review where applicable. Any fence over 7 feet requires a building permit showing structural details, post depth, and wind-load calculations. Pool enclosure fences, even when under 7 feet, are regulated by USBC and must comply with the 48 inch minimum height and self-closing, self-latching gate rules. Retaining walls over 3 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing require a permit and engineered drawings. Electrified fences are not allowed in residential zones. The city recommends that property owners confirm their boundary with a recent survey before installing, because the city does not resolve boundary disputes and a fence over the line is a civil matter between neighbors. Locating underground utilities by calling Miss Utility at 811 is required before any post digging.