Hall County, GA Fence Building Codes & Permits

Hall County does not always require a building permit when erecting a fence. A permit is always required if the site is located within “Conservation, Historic, Landmark, SPI districts or other districts requiring a Special Administrative Permit.

Fences and walls which conform to the provisions stated herein shall be permitted by the Department of Environment and Community Development. Fences erected for agricultural purposes in the AG-1 District shall be exempt from permit requirements.

Easements: No structure with the exception of fences may be located in, or otherwise obstruct any easement. Fences shall be permitted within easements subject to the receipt of written permission from the easement holder. Approval of the Zoning Administrator and applicable County Department shall be required for all fences proposed for placement in easements which are held by Hall County.

Hall County Fence and Wall Standards

Walls or fences shall be permitted in any zoning district and are not subject to setback requirements of this resolution, except that in a residential zoning district:

(1) A solid fence buffer may be substituted, with planning commission approval, for part or all of the vegetated buffer as follows:
(1 a) A brick or stone wall with a minimum height of six feet may be placed on the property line in lieu of some or all of the buffer requirements.
(1 b) A solid wooden fence with a minimum height of six feet may be placed on the property line. The fence must have a natural finish. If stained or varnished, the resulting finish must be natural in appearance, and the finished side of the fence shall face the neighboring property.
(1 c) The width of the buffer may be reduced and the planted screening may be reduced or eliminated if the planning commission finds that a wall or fence will provide a satisfactory overall screening of the property, considering use, topography and appearance, and that a wall or fence will not create a safety problem or impose an adverse visual barrier that could affect the use or value of the residential property.
(5) Fences and warning signs will be required on all detention ponds, constructed wetlands, retention ponds or similar devices where the sides of the device adjacent to the water are steeper than a 3:1 grade and the depth of the water in the pond is greater than three feet during a 25-year storm event. Fences shall be five feet tall with a fourteen foot wide gate. Fences shall be chain link or other approved material. The gate shall be locked with a Master Number One lock that is keyed as per the Hall County Engineer. Residential fences shall be located on the outside edge of the 20- foot perimeter easement. Commercial fencing should be located on the outside edge of the 20-foot perimeter easement when possible, but may be located elsewhere with the Hall County Engineering Department’s approval.

Fences & Walls Cont.

(Revised September 2009) The Zoning Resolution (Section 700) and the Property Maintenance Ordinance (Section 14-301) contain requirements about the location, height, material, and maintenance of fences and walls on residential lots. In addition, the Development Regulations (Subsection 7.4.6) contain restrictions about the construction of fences and walls in a drainage easement. All of these requirements are applicable in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Fences proposed to be located in the rear yard must not exceed the maximum allowable height of 8 feet. Fences proposed to be located in the front yard must not exceed a maximum height of 4 feet. Materials used for fences in the front yard must be ornamental in design and constructed with materials such as brick, masonry, picket or split rail. Chain link or other woven wire fences are prohibited in a front yard. Corner lots have two (2) front yards and the same regulations and restrictions on fences in the front yard apply to the yard areas adjacent to both streets. Fences and walls are not allowed to be located in the street right-of-way. Although only a professional survey can determine the actual right-of-way boundary line, in most cases it is the area approximately 11 feet from the back of the curb toward the lot.

Fences and walls constructed after 27 April 1999 are not allowed in a drainage easement unless written permission from the county is given. For further information about fences and walls in drainage easements, please contact the Stormwater Plan Review Section of the Department of Planning & Development at 770.531.6809 between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays. Drainage easements are indicated on Final Plats of subdivisions that are kept on file in the Real Estate Records Office of the Clerk of Superior Court.

Fences may be placed adjacent to or on side or rear property lines. However, it is recommended that adequate room be provided between the fence and the property line for maintenance purposes without having to access someone else’s property without their permission. Barbed wire and electric fences are prohibited on residential lots less than 3 acres in size. All damaged or missing portions of a fence need to be replaced with comparable materials and shall be attached to the existing portion of the fence. Fences cannot be externally braced by a means of support other than the intended posts or other structural members. Building permits are required for fences greater than 8 feet in height (and provided a height variance is granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals at a public hearing) and for walls that are greater than 4 feet in height.

Violations of fence and wall regulations may be reported by calling the Police Services Quality of Life Unit Complaint Hot Line at 770.531.6762

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where can I install a fence on my residential property? How tall can I build the fence? Is a permit required?

A. Each lot has a front, side and rear setback from the property line. Review the final plat of the subdivision to find the locations of these setbacks on the property. Although fences in the rear and side yards may be built up to the property line, it is highly recommended to offset the fence internally from the property line to allow room for maintenance to avoid crossing over to the adjacent property. Fences are allowed to be up to eight (8) feet in height in the side and rear setbacks. Each corner lot has two front yard setbacks, one from each right of way. Fences in the front yard setback are not allowed to exceed four (4) feet in height. A building permit is not required to install a fence 8 feet or less in height except a building permit is required for masonry and concrete walls which exceed 4 feet in height and function as a fence, screen, or barrier.

Q. Am I allowed to install a fence within a drainage easement on my property?

A. Possibly, although obstructions of any type including permanent structures are generally not permitted within drainage easements. Installation of fencing within a drainage easement requires approval by the Stormwater Plan Review Section.

Q. Is the homeowner required to be present at his/her residence during a scheduled inspection by a building inspector?

A. Either the homeowner or an adult representative must be present before an inspector can enter an occupied residence or fenced property. For inspection of an outside structure such as a deck, pool, or storage shed, the homeowner may place a note on the permit card granting the inspector permission to enter the property if he/she cannot be present during the inspection.

Fence Workshop™ supplies the following fence styles in Hall County, GA.

• Wood Privacy, Picket , Split Rail & Board
• Vinyl Privacy, Picket, Post & Rail
• Ornamental Metal, Steel, Aluminum & Wrought Iron
• Chain Link, Galvanized, Black Vinyl Coated, Temporary Panels
• Driveway Gates, Gate Openers, Access Control Systems, Entry Gates, Entry Systems
• Residential Fences, Commercial Fences, Security Fences, Dog Fences, Horse Fences
• Fence Installation, Fence Repair, Fence Rental, Contractors, Companies, Installers, Builders

(Fence Workshop™ is not responsible for the accuracy of this information. Visit Hallcounty.org and Municode.com for the most up-to-date information on Hall County fence building codes and permit requirements.)

We Service the Following Cities in Hall County, GA:

Get Started – Shop Our Fences Now!

We know you’re getting excited about your new fencing project, and we would love to help. You’re just a call or click away from getting started! Our passion is the art of beautiful fences, and we can’t wait to share that passion with you to create the dazzling fencing you’ve been dreaming of. Get started now!
Phone: 1-888-802-5252  Email: [email protected]  Schedule a quote: Online Quick Quote Form