Fence height and permit rules by city
Cities limit fence height by where the fence sits: front yards are usually held to 3 or 4 feet so drivers can see, while side and rear yards commonly allow 6 to 8 feet. Corner lots add a sight triangle where almost nothing can be tall. Some cities want a permit for every fence, others only above a height.
13 cities and utilities in 9 states, each checked against official sources in November 2026.
| City | Rule | Key detail | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey Park, CA | 4 feet, measured from the front property line. | Monterey Park caps fences and walls at 4 feet in the required front yard and 6 feet anywhere else on the lot. | Height and placement limits |
| Paonia, CO | Nothing over 48 inches within 30 feet of the corner along each property line. | Paonia, Colorado bars fences over 48 inches inside a 30-foot corner sight triangle and reviews fences through | Height and placement limits |
| Middletown, DE | Required for fences 2 feet or higher; placement only, with a final inspection you call in. | Since 2025, Middletown, Delaware requires a fence permit and final inspection for every new, replacement or re | Permit required |
| Columbus, IN | 42 inches (3.5 feet). Corner lots: both street sides count as front yards. | Columbus, Indiana needs no fence permit, but caps front yard fences at 42 inches and side or rear fences at 8 | No permit needed |
| Warsaw, IN | $5, with a site plan showing setbacks. | Warsaw, Indiana requires a fence permit with a site plan, for a one-time $5 fee | Permit required |
| Whitestown, IN | 42 inches. | Whitestown, Indiana limits front yard fences to 42 inches and side and rear fences to 6 feet, through a fence | Permit required |
| Minneapolis, MN | 3 feet. | Minneapolis limits front yard fences to 3 feet | Height and placement limits |
| Charlotte, NC | Up to 8 feet above grade. | Charlotte allows fences up to 8 feet in the established rear yard, and requires a building permit only for fen | Permit only over a set height |
| New York City, NY | 4 feet (ZR §23-44). | In New York City, one- and two-family homes need no permit for fences 6 feet or less | Permit only over a set height |
| Nashville, TN | Over 30 inches must be 10 feet from the right-of-way. | Nashville allows front yard fences up to 6 feet, but a solid fence over 30 inches must sit at least 10 feet ba | Height and placement limits |
| Fruit Heights, UT | Required for all fences in residential districts. | Fruit Heights, Utah requires a fence permit for any fence in a residential district. | Permit required |
| South Jordan, UT | No taller than 3 feet. | South Jordan limits anything in the corner clear vision zone, fences included, to 3 feet. | Height and placement limits |
| Washington County, UT | 3 feet maximum. | Washington County, Utah limits obstructions in a corner clear view triangle, including fences, to 3 feet. | Height and placement limits |
Step by step
- Find your property lines with a survey or plat before setting posts.
- Check the front yard, side and rear yard limits, and whether you are on a corner lot.
- Ask whether a permit or zoning review is needed, and for which heights or materials.
- Check HOA rules too. They can be stricter than the city, never looser.
- Call 811 to mark utilities before digging.
What it costs
Permit fees are usually small, from nothing to under $100. The fence itself is the real cost and depends on length, height and material.
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