Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences (2026)

Top 25: Tallest Allowed

Based on residential fence height limits in each city's zoning code. Rankings consider both front and rear yard maximums, with higher rear yard limits ranked as more permissive.

1. 1

   Boulder County, COFew Restrictions

   Unincorporated Boulder County allows fences up to 6 feet without a building permit under the Land Use Code. Fences over 6 feet require a permit from Community Planning & Permitting, and any fence in a 100-year floodplain needs a Floodplain Development Permit regardless of height.

2. 2

   Boone County, MOFew RestrictionsNone set generally

   The Boone County Zoning Ordinance (last revised Jan 21, 2025) does not set numeric fence height limits in unincorporated areas. Section 10.B(10) requires fences over 2 feet stay outside corner-lot vision triangles (20 feet from intersecting street rights-of-way). Section 13 governs animal enclosures in residentially developed areas of 3 acres or less.

3. 3

   Dallas County, TXFew Restrictions

   No county fence height restrictions. Texas counties cannot zone or regulate fence heights. No permit required for residential fences. HOA/deed restrictions are the primary constraint on fence height in unincorporated subdivisions.

4. 4

   Manchester, NHFew Restrictions3 to 4 feet typical

   Manchester sets fence height limits through local zoning ordinances. New Hampshire allows up to 6 feet for backyard fences and 3 to 4 feet for front yard fences in most municipalities.

5. 5

   Baytown, TXFew RestrictionsNone — no zoning ordinance

   Baytown does not have traditional zoning and does not impose citywide fence height limits through a zoning ordinance. Property owners have broad discretion in fence height. However, fences must not obstruct traffic visibility at intersections or block drainage. Building permits may be required for masonry walls above certain heights. HOA CC&Rs in many subdivisions impose their own height restrictions.

6. 6

   Denton County, TXFew RestrictionsNone

   Unincorporated Denton County has no fence height ordinance. Property owners may build fences of any height on their own land without county approval. HOA deed restrictions in subdivisions typically limit fences to 6 feet in rear yards and 4 feet in front yards.

7. 7

   Katy, TXFew Restrictions

   Katy's Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance (Exhibit 14A) do not set a numeric maximum fence height for residential lots and require no building permit for fence construction. Corner lots must preserve sightlines at intersections, and almost every Katy subdivision is governed by HOA deed restrictions that typically cap fences at 6 to 8 feet. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 authorizes Katy's zoning controls.

8. 8

   Travis County, TXFew Restrictions

   Travis County imposes no fence height limits in unincorporated areas because TX counties cannot zone. Height is governed only by deed restrictions, HOA covenants, or Austin ETJ rules where applicable. Most subdivisions allow 6 ft rear, 4 ft front.

9. 9

   Hidalgo County, TXFew Restrictions

   Hidalgo County does not regulate fence heights in unincorporated areas. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 233 limits county building-permit authority to commercial, public-accessible, and multifamily (4+ unit) structures, so single-family residential fences are not subject to county zoning. Cities such as McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, and Pharr set their own fence height limits inside city limits.

10. 10

    Bell County, TXFew Restrictions

    Bell County does not regulate fence heights in unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack zoning authority outside ETJ. Subdivision regulations (adopted 2001, updated Dec 2024) cover platting and drainage but not fences. Pool fences must be 4 ft minimum under the county Public Nuisance Abatement Order.

11. 11

    Brazos County, TXFew Restrictions

    Brazos County does NOT regulate residential fence heights in unincorporated areas. Texas Local Government Code §233.153 prohibits counties from adopting zoning regulations or requiring prior approval before residential construction. Texas Property Code §§26.001–26.003 govern boundary fence disputes between neighbors but set no height cap. Inside the cities of Bryan and College Station, municipal zoning ordinances apply (typically 6 ft side/rear, 4 ft front).

12. 12

    Adams County, COFew RestrictionsNone

    In unincorporated Adams County, any fence or wall taller than 42 inches (3.5 ft) requires a building permit through the Adams County E-Permit Center. Fences 42 inches and shorter do not require a permit. All fences - regardless of height - must be structurally sound and maintained in good repair. Outdoor storage screening requires a 6-foot opaque fence under Section 4-09-01-04 of the Adams County Development Standards and Regulations. Permits and inquiries: epermitcenter@adamscountyco.gov or 720.523.6800.

13. 13

    Cass County, NDFew Restrictions

    Cass County, ND does not impose a countywide fence-height limit. In unincorporated Cass County, fence regulation is delegated to organized townships under NDCC Chapter 58-03 and to township zoning ordinances adopted under NDCC Chapter 11-33. Some Cass County townships (e.g., Rich Township) have adopted zoning that includes setback and accessory-structure rules that affect fences; others have no fence rules at all. Cities within Cass County - Fargo, West Fargo, Horace - apply their own fence ordinances. Property-line fence disputes are governed by NDCC Chapter 47-26.

14. 14

    Clarke County, GAFew Restrictions48 inches (4 ft)

    Fence height in Athens-Clarke County is governed by Sec. 9-15-1 of the Zoning and Development Standards. For single-family residential lots, fences in front yards are limited to 48 inches (4 feet). Fences in side and rear yards may be up to 8 feet. Fences in side or rear yards within 10 feet of a public right-of-way are also capped at 48 inches. A Zoning Permit from the ACC Planning Department (706-613-3515) is required before construction.

15. 15

    Fairfield County, CTFew Restrictions4 feet

    Fairfield County has no operational government (abolished 1960), so fence height limits are set by each town under the state zoning enabling act, Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 8-2. Typical Fairfield County rules cap fences at 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards, with corner-lot sight-line setbacks. Stamford Zoning Regs Sec. 7.4, Bridgeport Zoning Sec. 12-12-1, Norwalk Building Zone Regs Sec. 118-1430, Greenwich Building Zone Regs Sec. 6-141(a)(13), and Danbury Zoning Regs Sec. 4.A.5 each codify these standards. Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 47-43 governs civil 'spite fence' actions.

16. 16

    Essex County, NJFew RestrictionsNone

    Essex County, NJ does not regulate residential fence heights. Under New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D), zoning - including fence height, setbacks, and materials - is the exclusive authority of the 22 Essex municipalities. Typical Essex County fence rules follow NJ's common pattern: 4 feet maximum in front yards, 6 feet maximum in side and rear yards, with corner-lot sight-triangle restrictions. Newark, Montclair, Bloomfield, West Orange, and East Orange each have their own fence ordinance and permit process. Always check your municipal building/zoning department before installing a fence.

17. 17

    Hampden County, MAFew Restrictions

    Hampden County has no county government (abolished 7/1/1998 under M.G.L. c. 34B §1), so fence rules are set by each city/town's zoning bylaw under M.G.L. c. 40A. Statewide, M.G.L. c. 49 §21 makes a fence over 6 feet built maliciously to annoy a neighbor an actionable "spite fence" nuisance. The 780 CMR state building code (10th edition) requires a building permit for any fence over 7 feet. In Hampden County's larger cities, typical limits are 4 ft front yards / 6 ft side and rear yards: Springfield Zoning Ord. §6.4.2, Holyoke Zoning §6.5, and Chicopee Zoning §10.4 follow this pattern.

18. 18

    Jefferson County, COFew Restrictions6 ft (Sec. 30.F.1)

    Unincorporated Jefferson County does not require a fence permit, but the Zoning Resolution caps fence height in Residential Districts at 6 feet (Section 30.F.1). Within the front-setback line and front lot line, no fence of any type may exceed 42 inches (Section 30.F.2). Barbed-wire and electric fences are prohibited in residential zone districts (Section 30.F.3). Where adjacent lots have different allowed heights, the lower restriction governs (Section 30.F.4). Corner lots must comply with the vision clearance triangle. Mountain Residential and Agricultural districts have separate caps. Contact Planning & Zoning at 303-271-8700.

19. 19

    Hartford County, CTFew Restrictions4 feet

    Hartford County has no operational government (abolished 1960), so fence height limits are set by each Capitol Region COG town under the state zoning enabling act, Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 8-2. Typical Hartford County rules cap fences at 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards, with corner-lot sight-line setbacks. Hartford Zoning Regs, West Hartford Zoning Regs Sec. 177, Manchester Zoning Regs Article II, New Britain Zoning Sec. 290, and Bristol Zoning Regs each codify these standards. Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 47-43 governs civil 'spite fence' actions.

20. 20

    Lafayette Parish, LAFew RestrictionsNone (La. R.S. 33)

    Lafayette Consolidated Government regulates fences in the Unified Development Code (Chapter 89). Sec. 89-32 governs fence standards, and standard residential fences 7 feet or shorter do not require a building permit; fences taller than 7 feet require a building permit through LCG Permits & Codes. At street intersections, no fence, wall, or hedge may exceed 36 inches above street level where it obstructs the line of sight (Sec. 89-44(f)), and a 30-foot sight triangle applies at private street corners. Temporary fences up to 5 feet in place no more than 30 days are exempt from a Certificate of Appropriateness.

21. 21

    Jackson County, MOFew Restrictions

    In unincorporated Jackson County, Missouri, fences taller than 6 feet require a building permit through Jackson County Public Works. Fences 6 feet or shorter generally do not require a county permit but must still comply with the Jackson County Unified Development Code (UDC, adopted 2020) - including setbacks, sight-distance triangles at corners, and screening requirements for nonresidential uses. Fences are regulated only in unincorporated territory; cities such as Kansas City (Chapter 27 of the KC Code), Independence, Lee's Summit, and Blue Springs each set their own fence rules within their city limits. Permit and zoning questions: Jackson County Public Works, (816) 881-4515.

22. 22

    Marathon County, WIFew Restrictions

    Fences in unincorporated Marathon County are regulated under Section 17.401.05 (Fence and Wall Regulations) of the county Zoning Code (Chapter 17), administered by the Marathon County Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department (715.261.6000). Specific height limits depend on the underlying zoning district and yard location (front, side, rear, corner sight-triangle). Marathon County is undertaking a 2026 update to Chapter 17 that includes simplified fence rules and possible increases to allowed heights, with public requests for 8-foot residential privacy fences. Cities and villages within the county have their own zoning codes and fence rules that supersede county rules within their limits.

23. 23

    Linn County, IAFew RestrictionsNone

    Iowa has no statewide cap on residential fence height. In unincorporated Linn County, fences are regulated through Chapter 107 of the County Code (the Unified Development Code) and through the county's zoning and building permit framework administered by Linn County Planning & Development. Property-line and partition fences between rural neighbors are also subject to Iowa Code Chapter 359A (partition fence law). For exact fence height, setback, and corner-lot sight-triangle limits in your zone, contact Linn County Planning & Development at 319-892-5130.

24. 24

    Midland County, TXFew Restrictions

    Midland County does not regulate fence heights in unincorporated areas. Texas counties lack zoning authority (Local Gov Code Ch. 233). The county's Subdivision Regulations cover platting, drainage, and street layout but contain no fence height limits. City of Midland zoning sets fence heights only inside city limits.

25. 25

    Macomb County, MIFew RestrictionsNone

    Macomb County, MI does not regulate residential fence heights. Under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3101 et seq.), zoning - including fence height, setbacks, and materials - is the exclusive authority of the 27 cities, villages, and townships in Macomb County. Typical Macomb County fence rules follow MI's common pattern: 4 feet maximum in front yards, 6 feet maximum in side and rear yards, with corner-lot sight-triangle restrictions. Sterling Heights, Warren, Clinton Township, and Shelby Township each have their own fence ordinance and permit process. Pool barriers must comply with the Michigan Residential Code (48-inch minimum). Always check your municipal building/zoning department before installing a fence.

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