Rochester Hills, MI Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Section 138-10.107.D.1 of the Rochester Hills Zoning Ordinance requires that the erection, construction, or alteration of any fence, wall, or other type of protective barrier on non-residential property be approved by the Building Official. Approval confirms the fence conforms both to the requirements of the specific zoning district in which the property sits and to the general fence standards in Section 138-10.107. This approval sits alongside the district-specific standards in the same section: non-residential fences are capped at eight feet in height, with security fences of anodized aluminum or comparable ornamental material allowed up to ten feet at the Planning Commission's discretion, and chain link is generally prohibited unless the Planning and Economic Development Department determines the fence will not be visible from an abutting roadway.

Fencing on non-residential property is only permitted when necessary in connection with a permitted principal use, an approved conditional use, or a permitted accessory use in that district, and cannot be placed in the required front yard. Residential fences are not subject to this same Building Official pre-approval requirement in Section 138-10.107.D, though the applicability clause in Section 138-10.107.A exempts fences built under an approved site plan or a state-code-compliant swimming pool enclosure from the chapter generally.