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High Point, NC Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit required: Zoning Compliance Permit before any fence work
Governing sections: Dev. Ordinance §§ 2.5.16, 5.11.2
Reviewing official: Planning and Development Director
Permit expiration: Void after 1 year if not substantially commenced
First-offense penalty: $50 civil penalty
Repeat penalties: $100, then $200, then $500 per violation
Appeal route: Section 2.4.3 within the permit decision

Summary

Before installing or replacing a fence anywhere in High Point, North Carolina, the property owner must obtain a zoning compliance permit under Development Ordinance § 2.5.16, since fences are development that does not require a building permit. The Planning and Development Director reviews the application against every applicable Ordinance and City Code standard, and the approved permit lapses within one year if work has not substantially started.

A.Applicability Approval of a zoning compliance permit is required for development that does not require a building permit (such as accessory buildings with no horizontal dimension greater than 12 feet, outdoor storage activities, fences, and temporary uses). ... G.Expiration 1.General The issuance of a zoning compliance permit establishes a vested right in accordance with Section 1.10.1, Development Permit. ... 3.All Other Development A zoning compliance permit shall expire and become null and void within 1 year of issuance unless the development authorized by the permit has substantially commenced. H.Appeal Applicable (See Section 2.4.3, Appeal).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9 | Development Ordinance: Supplement 14).

Full Breakdown

5. 2). H). C. Gen. 1(b). 16 still applies unless the specific use itself is exempted.

Violations & Fines

Building or replacing a fence without the required zoning compliance permit is a violation of the Development Ordinance, enforced through the civil penalty schedule in Section 9.9.5: $50 for a first violation, $100 for a second, $200 for a third, and $500 for the fourth and each violation after that. Section 9.9.2 treats every day the fence stays out of compliance as a separate, additional offense, so penalties keep accruing until the permit is obtained and the work is brought into compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does High Point require a permit to build a fence?

Yes. Development Ordinance § 2.5.16.A requires a zoning compliance permit for any fence, because a fence is development that does not need a building permit. The Planning and Development Director reviews the application under Section 2.5.16.B-C before you can start construction, and Section 5.11.2 repeats that a fence 'may only be erected in accordance with Section 2.5.16.'

How long does a High Point fence permit stay valid?

A zoning compliance permit is good for one year. Section 2.5.16.G.3 states it 'shall expire and become null and void within 1 year of issuance unless the development authorized by the permit has substantially commenced,' so a fence project that stalls past that window needs a new permit before work resumes.

What fences are exempt from High Point's fence permit standards?

Section 5.11.3 exempts temporary construction-site fencing, fences built with major or minor utility facilities, landfills, correctional facilities, military facilities or hazardous waste disposal facilities, below-ground low-voltage electric pet fences, and battery-charged security fences on nonresidential land meeting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-134.1(b).

What happens if I build a fence without a permit in High Point?

The City can cite you under the Development Ordinance's civil penalty schedule in Section 9.9.5: $50 for a first violation, rising to $100, $200, and $500 for later violations, with each day of noncompliance under Section 9.9.2 counting as a separate offense until you obtain the permit.

Sources & Official References

[1]High Point, NC Development Ordinance § 2.5.16, Zoning Compliance Permit (Municode Library)

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