High Point, NC Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- wall/berm below fence counts as fence height
- Residential cap
- 4 to 8 feet by location
- Measured
- highest point nearest adjoining lot
- Excludes
- safety railings required by State Building Code
- Governs
- City of High Point zoning districts
Summary
High Point's Development Ordinance counts a retaining wall or berm sitting below a fence toward that fence's maximum height, so residential fence caps of 4 to 8 feet apply to the combined structure.
Fence height shall be measured at the highest point above grade (not including columns or fence posts) on the portion of the fence nearest an abutting or adjacent lot or street right-of-way.B.Column and Post Height Columns or posts shall not exceed a height 18 inches above the built height of the fence.C.Wall or Berm Below Fence Any retaining wall or berm below a fence shall be included within the fence height.D.Railings Not Included Safety railings required by the State Building Code shall not be included in fence height measurements.
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
Section 10.2.12.C of the Development Ordinance measures fence height at the highest point above grade nearest the adjoining lot or right-of-way, and folds any retaining wall or berm located below a fence into that same height figure: you can't stack a wall and a fence to exceed the district's cap. Table 5.11.5.B then sets the residential ceiling: 4 feet within 15 feet of a local street, 6 feet near a thoroughfare or collector, and 8 feet everywhere else, with a 6-foot fence barred from encroaching into the front-yard setback.
Violations & Fines
Building a retaining wall under a fence that pushes the combined height past the district's 4, 6, or 8-foot cap is a zoning violation subject to the Ordinance's enforcement provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I build a retaining wall and put a fence on top, does the wall count toward the height limit?
What's the maximum residential fence height in High Point?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in High Point
Compare High Point to another location·View the North Carolina fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle retaining walls.