Rock Hill, SC Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

Rock Hill layers two permit tracks for fences. (1) Zoning / fence permit: The Planning and Development Department issues a fence permit to confirm Chapter 31 compliance - height (district-specific from the zoning code), location relative to property lines, corner-visibility sight triangle, and any historic-overlay design review for the Downtown Rock Hill / Old Town historic areas. The application typically requires a scaled site plan showing lot, structures, and proposed fence location with property-line distances; proposed height and material; owner signature; and the permit fee from Appendix A (Fee Schedule). (2) Building permit (IRC): South Carolina building codes are adopted statewide by the SC Building Codes Council under S.C. Code Ann. § 6-9-50, which requires every municipality and county to enforce the latest editions adopted by the Council. The current adopted residential code is the 2021 South Carolina Residential Code (based on IRC 2021), effective January 1, 2023. IRC § R105.2 (Permit Exemptions) exempts fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high from the requirement to obtain a separate building permit. Pool barrier fences must still meet the IRC Appendix G / Chapter 42 barrier standards (and the ISPSC barrier rules) regardless of whether a building permit is technically required. Rock Hill's local zoning permit is independent and applies even where the IRC exempts the structure from a building permit. The Permit Application Center can be reached at (803) 329-5590. South Carolina has no statewide fence statute, so the local zoning permit is the controlling permit for fence-height enforcement.