Fort Smith requires a building permit for any fence taller than 6 feet, issued by the Building Safety Division at 623 Garrison Avenue. Shorter fences must still comply with the height, material, setback, and corner sight-triangle rules in Chapter 27 of the Unified Development Ordinance.
Fence permits in Fort Smith are governed by Chapter 6 (Building Code) and Chapter 27 (Unified Development Ordinance) of the Code of Ordinances. Per the Building Safety FAQ, a permit is required if the fence exceeds 6 feet in height. Permits are issued by the Building Safety Division at 623 Garrison Avenue, Suite 405, phone (479) 784-1051. Applications include a site plan showing fence location, height, materials, and setbacks. The Zoning Division (479-784-2216) reviews compliance with Chapter 27 height caps, allowed-material lists, and corner sight-triangle requirements. Fences under 6 feet do not need a building permit but still must meet zoning rules; an after-the-fact permit, including doubled fees, may be required for non-compliant work.
Erecting a fence over 6 feet without a permit, or any fence that violates Chapter 27 height, material, or sight-distance rules, is a code violation. Building Safety may issue stop-work orders, citations, and orders to modify or remove the fence.
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