Douglas County, NE Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Front/street-side yard height
- 4 feet max
- Other yards height
- 6 feet max (10 ft in Industrial)
- Placement
- Must stay inside surveyed lot lines
- Materials
- No barbed wire/electric in residential
- Late-permit penalty
- Fees quadrupled, § 13.07(D)
Summary
Unincorporated Douglas County requires a building permit before erecting any fence, per its Zoning Regulations. Fences must also meet height, setback, and material standards under Article 6. Omaha and incorporated cities have separate codes.
No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a permit therefore, issued by the relevant County official. No building permit shall be issued except if it is conformity with the provisions of this regulation, unless a written order from the Board of Adjustment in the form of an administrative review, special exception, or variance as provided by this regulation has been obtained.
Full Breakdown
Before building a fence in unincorporated Douglas County, the Zoning Regulations require a building permit for any structure erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered (§ 13.06(B)), issued by the relevant county official. A permitted fence must also meet Article 6.04's standards: it must stay inside the surveyed property line, cannot sit within the 30-foot sight triangle at street intersections, is capped at 4 feet in a required front or street-side yard and 6 feet elsewhere (up to 10 feet in Industrial districts), and cannot use barbed wire or electrified material in residential subdivisions. Omaha, Bennington, Valley, Waterloo, and Ralston enforce their own separate municipal codes, not these county regulations.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a fence without the required permit violates § 13.06(B); the Zoning Coordinator can order illegal structures removed, and § 13.07(D) quadruples all required fees when construction begins before a permit is obtained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Douglas County?
How tall can my fence be?
Do these rules apply if I live in Omaha?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska fence regulations overview
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