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

Section 106.1 of the county's Construction Code requires a permit before anyone can "construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish" a structure regulated by the code, with the application submitted to the building official through the Department of Planning and Development. Section 106.4.A then carves out specific fence and wall exemptions. Subsection A.2 exempts "fences up to 8 feet in height excluding masonry and concrete construction," so a wood, vinyl, chain-link or wrought-iron fence up to that height needs no permit. Masonry and concrete fencing is treated differently: A.3 exempts only "masonry and concrete walls up to 4 feet in height which function as a fence, screen, or barrier with optional integral pilasters up to 6 feet in height," meaning a solid masonry or concrete fence taller than 4 feet, or one with pilasters taller than 6 feet, needs a permit. Retaining walls get their own threshold under A.4: exempt only "up to 4 feet in height measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or confining liquids," so any retaining wall over 4 feet, or one that holds back a surcharge load or liquid at any height, must be permitted regardless of material.

Permit applications must identify the work, describe the property, and, per § 107.1, include construction documents unless the building official waives them for straightforward jobs. Fees follow the schedule the Board of Commissioners adopts under § 109.2, and starting fence or wall construction before the permit issues adds the separate fee required by § 109.4.