Fence Regulations in Delaware (2026)
16 rules on the books across Delaware, 4 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Height Limits
Maximum fence heights for front, side, and back yards, including privacy fences, corner-lot visibility rules, and how height is measured on slopes and retaining walls.
Kent County
Some RestrictionsKent County lets an ornamental fence or wall up to 4 feet tall sit inside the front or side setback, and up to 7 feet…
Read full rule →New Castle County
Some RestrictionsFences on residential lots in New Castle County top out at 6 feet, drop to 4 feet in the street yard in the NC5-NC15…
Read full rule →Sussex County
Some RestrictionsSussex County limits residential fences to 3.5 feet within the required front or side yard depth and 7 feet elsewhere…
Read full rule →Wilmington
Some RestrictionsWilmington caps solid residential fences at six feet and open fences at eight feet, with barbed and razor wire banned…
Read full rule →Fence Permit Requirements
Whether you need a building permit to install or replace a fence, and what the permit process and fees look like.
Sussex County
Some RestrictionsEvery residential fence in unincorporated Sussex County must be approved by the Director of Planning and Zoning before…
Read full rule →Wilmington
Some RestrictionsFences that cross Wilmington's building line onto a sidewalk or street need a Licenses and Inspections permit approved…
Read full rule →Kent County
Light RestrictionsKent County exempts fences of seven feet or less from its building permit requirement, but that exemption does not…
Read full rule →New Castle County
Light RestrictionsNew Castle County exempts ordinary yard fences from building permits, but swimming pool barrier fences need one and…
Read full rule →Neighbor Fence Rules
Rules about shared boundary fences, including who pays for construction and maintenance, and which side faces the neighbor.
Delaware: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsDelaware law makes adjoining occupants split partition-fence upkeep in equal shares as long as both parties farm or…
Read full rule →Wilmington
Significant RestrictionsCity zoning code lets the building inspector order down any fence or wall built mainly to annoy or damage the property…
Read full rule →Retaining Walls
Height limits and permit requirements for retaining walls, including engineering requirements for taller walls on sloped lots.
Kent County
Some RestrictionsKent County exempts retaining walls up to four feet tall from a building permit under Building Code § 105-4.B(3)…
Read full rule →New Castle County
Some RestrictionsNew Castle County lets you build a retaining wall up to four feet exposed height without engineering review. Cross that…
Read full rule →Wilmington
Some RestrictionsIn Wilmington's zoning code, a retaining wall under one foot tall is exempt from the residential building setback line…
Read full rule →Material Restrictions
Specific materials that are prohibited for fencing, such as barbed wire, razor wire, or electric fencing in residential zones.
Kent County
Significant RestrictionsKent County Zoning Code § 205-26 permits barbed wire or electrified fences only on a farm operation. Everywhere else, a…
Read full rule →Wilmington
Significant RestrictionsWilmington's zoning code bans barbed wire, razor wire, and similar fencing material in every residential and commercial…
Read full rule →New Castle County
Some RestrictionsNew Castle County allows wood, brick, masonry, stone, wrought iron, vinyl, aluminum and PVC fencing but bans sheet or…
Read full rule →