FENCE RULES – KENNESAW (CITY), GEORGIA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Kennesaw, subject to local regulations.
The City of Kennesaw regulates residential fencing through the Unified Development Code, the online permit process administered through Building Services, and, where applicable, the historic district review process. The published residential rules address permit processing, yard placement, height, right-of-way encroachment, front-yard materials, and historic district standards.
This page focuses on typical single-family residential fencing. If the jurisdiction’s adopted materials do not state a specific limit or requirement, this page notes that the code does not specify one.
Within the City of Kennesaw historic district, additional review and design standards apply. Those standards include a Certificate of Appropriateness process and stricter location, height, and material limits than the citywide fence provisions.
Compiled From the City of Kennesaw Unified Development Code, Building Services permit guidance, Planning & Zoning guidance, Code Enforcement guidance, and the Kennesaw Historic District Design Standards, as of April 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The City of Kennesaw regulates residential fences through its Unified Development Code in Appendix A, together with the City’s published permit process. The Building Services Department administers the online permit process, and the Planning & Zoning Department publishes the zoning reference guide and historic district guidance.
The City does not publish a single consolidated homeowner fence handbook. Instead, the controlling rules appear across the Unified Development Code fence and wall provisions, the City’s online fence permit portal, and, for historic district properties, the Kennesaw Historic Preservation Commission design review materials and Historic District Design Standards (2006).
For properties within the historic district, the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) administers Certificate of Appropriateness review before permit issuance. The Planning & Zoning Department also publishes the historic district map and COA application materials.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Fence Permit: The City publishes a dedicated online Fences permit application. The published submittal list includes fence plans, a site plan showing the fence location, and either the fence contractor’s business license or a signed and notarized homeowner affidavit.
• Historic District Approval: If the property is located within a historic district, a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) must be approved before the building permit is issued.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Planning & Zoning Department before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property Lines and Setbacks: The ordinance does not state a setback requirement for standard residential fences from property lines; however, fences must be located entirely on the owner’s property and must not encroach into rights-of-way or easements.
• Public Right-of-Way: Under the citywide fence and wall provisions, no fence or freestanding wall may be constructed in a public right-of-way.
• Historic District Side and Rear Yards: Within the historic district, fencing is permitted and encouraged along side and rear yards when the fencing is located behind the setback line established by the front facade of the house.
• Historic District Front Yards: Within the historic district, fencing is permitted in the front yard, but it may not extend into the public right-of-way.
• Utility Safety: Georgia law requires notice to the Utilities Protection Center (Georgia 811) before excavation with mechanized equipment. The locate request effective date must be not less than two (2) business days and not more than eight (8) business days after the request is received, and work under that locate request may not begin more than 30 calendar days after the effective date.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Required Yards: Under the citywide residential fence provisions, no fence or freestanding wall in a required yard may exceed 8 feet in height, except for a retaining wall or necessary fencing encompassing a tennis court on private property.
• Front Yards: A fence or freestanding wall constructed in the front yard may not exceed 4 feet in height.
• Corner Lots and Double Frontage Lots: On a corner lot or double frontage lot, a fence located along a street property line may not exceed 4 feet in height.
• Height Measurement: Fence height is measured from grade to the highest point of the fence.
• Historic District Height Limits: Within the historic district, the height of fences and walls located between a building facade and a public right-of-way may not exceed 32 inches. In other areas of the district, the limit is 6 feet.
• Visibility Standards: The published residential fence provisions do not specify a separate residential sight-triangle or visibility-triangle standard.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Front Yard Metal Fabric Limits: No wall or fence constructed of woven wire or metal fabric such as chain link, hog wire, or barbed wire may extend into a front yard, except that woven wire or metal fabric may extend into a front yard when the property contains at least 2 acres.
• Front Yard Decorative Materials on Lots Under 2 Acres: Any wall or fence extending into the required front yard on property less than 2 acres must be decorative and constructed of brick, stone, wood, stucco, wrought iron, or split rail.
• Prohibited Materials: Fences and walls may not be constructed of exposed concrete block, tires, junk, or other discarded materials.
• Finished Side Requirement: The exterior surface of any fence may not be unfinished along abutting properties.
• Historic District Materials: Within the historic district, barbed wire, razor wire, chain link, or similar fencing is not permitted. These district standards are more restrictive than the citywide front-yard material rules.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private covenants, deed restrictions, and HOA rules operate independently of City of Kennesaw regulations and may be more restrictive than the municipal standards summarized here.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Permit Submittal Review: The City’s published fence permit process reviews the submitted fence plans, site plan, contractor license or homeowner affidavit, and, where applicable, historic district approval documents.
• Historic District Review: Within the historic district, exterior fence work is subject to HPC review through the Certificate of Appropriateness process before permit issuance.
• Height and Location Compliance: Review issues include fences exceeding 8 feet in required yards, exceeding 4 feet in front yards, exceeding 4 feet along street property lines on corner or double frontage lots, or extending into the public right-of-way.
• Material Compliance: Review issues include prohibited front-yard chain link or similar metal fabric fencing, nondecorative front-yard fencing on lots under 2 acres, prohibited discarded-material fencing, and unfinished exterior surfaces along abutting properties.
• Historic District Design Compliance: In the historic district, review includes whether fencing is behind the front facade setback line where required, whether it exceeds 32 inches between the facade and public right-of-way or 6 feet elsewhere, and whether it uses prohibited materials such as barbed wire, razor wire, chain link, or similar fencing.
• Complaint-Based Enforcement: The City’s Code Enforcement Division states that it responds promptly to citizen complaints and patrols the city on a frequent and regular basis for violations.
• Appeals and Variances: Appeals and variance requests from the citywide fence section are heard by the Mayor and City Council. Appeals from Historic Preservation Commission decisions are also taken to the Mayor and City Council through a written petition delivered to the Planning and Zoning Administrator.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Kennesaw, based on publicly available materials reviewed as of April 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Georgia laws apply statewide. See Statewide Fence Laws in Georgia.
It is not legal advice and does not replace official ordinances, permits, surveys, or professional guidance. Rules and interpretations may change, and application may vary based on zoning district, site conditions, easements, rights-of-way, and private restrictions such as HOA covenants. Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, confirm current requirements and any site-specific limitations with Building Services Department and Planning & Zoning Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Kennesaw staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.