FENCE RULES – ANDERSON (COUNTY), TENNESSEE
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Anderson (County), subject to local regulations.
The regulation of fences and walls in Anderson County is primarily focused on maintaining public safety, ensuring adequate sight distances at intersections, and protecting public utility access. These standards apply to the unincorporated areas of the county. Property owners must ensure that any property enclosure does not create a vision obstruction for motorists or encroach upon public rights-of-way or designated drainage easements.
Compiled From the Anderson County Zoning Resolution (Adopted 1977; Amended November 2025) and the Anderson County Planning and Development Department as of February 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Tennessee does not publish a statewide residential fence code. For properties located within unincorporated Anderson County, residential fence standards are administered by the Anderson County Planning & Development Department.
Anderson County does not maintain a consolidated fence ordinance; instead, specific rules regarding height, placement, and safety are integrated into the Anderson County Zoning Resolution. Structural safety standards for specialized enclosures, such as swimming pool barriers, are governed by the locally adopted International Residential Code (IRC).
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
Standard residential fences typically fall below the administrative threshold for structural permitting in Anderson County.
• Building Permit Exemption: The standard International Residential Code defines fences seven (7) feet in height or lower as exempt from building permits.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with the Anderson County Planning & Development Department before construction.
• Special Use Requirements: Fences associated with specific land uses, such as salvage yards or commercial day care centers, are subject to mandatory site plan review and permitting by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
• Swimming Pool Barriers: Fences intended to serve as safety barriers for swimming pools must meet the specific enclosure and height requirements of the adopted building and safety codes to prevent unauthorized access.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• General Placement: 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.
• Rights-of-Way: No structure, including a fence or wall, shall be located within the 25-foot setback line for front or rear yards that abut a public road.
• Easements: Fences are prohibited from encroaching upon public utility or drainage easements without specific authorization. The county reserves the right to remove any obstruction within an easement at the owner’s expense if access for maintenance or drainage is required.
• Intersection Visibility: On corner lots, fences must not be placed in a manner that obstructs vision at the intersection. No obstruction to vision is permitted within the area formed by the centerlines of intersecting roads at a distance of seventy-five (75) feet from their intersection.
• Utility Safety: Tennessee’s Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act (TCA 65-31-101) requires everyone who digs to contact Tennessee 811 at least three (3) working days’ notice before starting a project. Tennessee 811 processes the notification of proposed excavation and notifies member utilities, or their contract locators, to mark their underground facilities prior to the excavation.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Standard Residential Height: The county does not publish a strict height limit for standard side or rear yard fences in residential districts, provided they do not exceed the seven (7) foot permit exemption threshold.
• Front Yards: Fences located in front yards or abutting a public road must observe the 25-foot setback from the right-of-way.
• Intersection Sight Triangles: Within the 75-foot intersection visibility zone, no fence, wall, or hedge may exceed a height of three and one-half (3.5) feet above the average grade of the road centerline.
• Visibility Range: Within the designated sight triangle, the area between 3.5 feet and 10 feet in height must remain clear of all visual obstructions.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Approved Materials: Anderson County does not publish an exhaustive list of prohibited materials for standard residential fencing in unincorporated areas.
• Day Care Enclosures: Outdoor play areas for day care homes must be enclosed by a fence no less than four (4) feet high.
• Maintenance: All fences must be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. Fences used for screening must be properly painted and kept in good repair.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
HOA requirements and private covenants operate independently from Anderson County regulations. Private rules may impose fence height, material, placement, or approval requirements that are more restrictive than County standards. County approval or the lack of a permit requirement does not override private restrictions.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Visibility Hazards: Fences on corner lots that exceed 3.5 feet in height within the 75-foot intersection sight triangle.
• Easement Obstruction: Placement of a fence within a recorded drainage or utility easement that interferes with maintenance or stormwater flow.
• Right-of-Way Encroachment: Installing a fence within the 25-foot setback area of a yard abutting a public road.
• Unpermitted Height: Construction of a fence exceeding seven (7) feet in height without a building permit and structural review.
• Maintenance Neglect: Fences that fall into disrepair or create a public health nuisance.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Anderson (County), based on publicly available materials reviewed as of February 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Tennessee laws apply statewide. See Statewide fence laws in Tennessee.
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 Anderson County Planning & Development Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Anderson County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.