Fulton County, GA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Zoning Resolution § 4.11 opens by requiring a permit from the Department of Environment and Community Development for any fence or wall that meets the section's standards, with only agricultural fencing in the AG-1 District exempt from that permit. Fences, walls and any vegetation used with them cannot block the minimum sight distance set in the county's Subdivision Regulations, and no part of a gate may sit within 20 feet of a public right-of-way or obstruct it in any open, closed or partway position.

Residential fences and walls cannot exceed 8 feet from grade, though columns and ornamental caps may run up to 3 feet taller than that cap; every fence and wall must also sit back at least 3 feet from a public right-of-way. Materials are regulated too: wire and plastic fencing, including chain link with plastic or wood inserts, cannot face a street right-of-way outside the AG-1, M-1, M-1A and M-2 districts, and any fence built along a property line must show its finished side to the neighboring property. Barbed wire is allowed only in AG-1 for a legitimate agricultural use and is barred outright on any single-family lot; razor wire is prohibited everywhere.

Retaining walls get their own permit track layered on top of § 4.11. A wall that is monolithically tied to a house or building foundation and already shown on an approved building permit needs no separate wall permit. Any other retaining wall over 4 feet requires a permit; walls between 4 and 6 feet can be permitted on an Owner Certification/Indemnification form, while walls over 6 feet, or 4-to-6-foot walls whose owner will not sign that form, need an Engineer Certification/Indemnification form with a licensed engineer's sign-off, plus a completed Checklist for Retaining Wall Permit Drawing.