FENCE RULES – MCDONOUGH (CITY), GEORGIA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of McDonough, subject to local regulations.
The main citywide residential fence rules appear in the Zoning Ordinance of the City of McDonough, Georgia, principally in Section 17.120.050 Fences and Walls, with a related visibility rule in Section 17.88.020. Additional approval rules may apply in designated historic districts or on designated historic properties under Chapter 15.44. Properties within the mapped Downtown Code area are also subject to additional downtown fence 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.
Compiled From the Zoning Ordinance of the City of McDonough, Georgia, Chapter 15.44 Historic Preservation, the Downtown Code, the Community & Economic Development page, the Planning & Zoning Division page, the Building & Inspection Division page, the Code Compliance Division page, and the City FAQ pages, as of April 2026.
GOVERNANCE
City of McDonough regulates residential fences through the Community Development Department, including the Planning & Zoning Division, Building & Inspection Division, and Code Compliance Division.
The principal citywide fence standards are consolidated in the Zoning Ordinance of the City of McDonough, Georgia, especially Section 17.120.050 Fences and Walls. Related rules also appear in Section 17.88.020 Visibility at Intersections and Chapter 15.44 Historic Preservation.
For properties inside the mapped Downtown Code area, the Downtown Code adds frontage and layer-specific fence standards that apply within that code area.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Fence Permit: A fence permit is required for construction, alteration, or relocation of a fence or wall.
• Permit Exceptions: A fence permit is not required for repairs to an existing fence or wall with no structural changes; replacement of an existing fence with a new fence of the same type and height in the same location, if the replacement otherwise complies with the code; or installation of gates up to eight (8) feet wide in an existing fence or wall with no structural changes.
• Application Materials: A fence permit application must include a plot plan or lot survey showing existing and proposed fences, walls, structures, easements, and setback dimensions; a detail of the proposed fence or wall with dimensions; and, when a fence is proposed on a property line, written consent from adjacent property owners or a certified survey verifying lot boundaries.
• Historic Approval: Within a designated historic district or on a designated historic property, a material change in the appearance of a structure requires approval through a certificate of appropriateness process under Chapter 15.44.
• Downtown Code Area: Properties within the mapped Downtown Code area must also comply with Downtown Code fence standards.
• 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 Division before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• General Location: 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.
• Property Line Installation: Fences located in required side and rear yards may be erected on the property line when written consent from all adjacent property owners is submitted, or when a certified survey verifies the lot boundaries.
• Corner Lots: On corner lots, the front fence must be set back at least five (5) feet from the public right-of-way, and the side fence must also be set back at least five (5) feet from the public right-of-way.
• Public Right-of-Way and City Property: No privately owned fence may be installed within a public right-of-way or within any City-owned area.
• Utility Easements: No fence may block access to utility easements between lots where easement access is stated on approved plats or plans.
• Emergency Access: No fence may be installed so that, in the opinion of the fire chief, it prevents or unduly restricts access to property for emergency purposes.
• Fence Orientation: Where a fence has one finished or decorative side, that side must face outward toward adjacent parcels. If a fence is designed with structural supports primarily on one side, that support side must face the interior of the property. Masonry walls must be finished in a similar manner on all sides.
• 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
• Standard Residential Height: In a residential zoning district, no fence or wall may exceed four (4) feet in height within a required front setback line or six (6) feet in height in the balance of the yard.
• Intersection Visibility: In all zoning districts, no fence, wall, shrubbery, sign, marquee, or other obstruction to vision between two and one-half (2.5) feet and fifteen (15) feet in height may be located within twenty (20) feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of two streets, or of a street intersection with a railroad right-of-way line.
• Published Exceptions: A fence or wall enclosing an approved stormwater management facility may be up to six (6) feet high. A fence or wall enclosing a tennis court may be up to twelve (12) feet high. Lots with double frontage may have a fence up to six (6) feet in the no-access easement.
• Downtown Code Urban Residential Area: Within the Downtown Code Urban Residential area, first-layer fences are limited to four (4) feet and second- and third-layer fences are limited to eight (8) feet. The Downtown Code also contains separate layer-based fence rules for other downtown districts.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Allowed Fence Materials: Standard fence materials are pressurized wood including cedar, cypress, or pine; brick; metal; or chain-link.
• Front Yard Material Rule: Any wall or fence extending into the required front yard on property less than three (3) acres in area must be constructed of brick, stone, wood, wrought iron, cast metal, or split rail.
• Front Yard Wire Restriction: No wall or fence constructed of woven wire or metal fabric, including chain link, hog wire, or barbed wire, may extend into a front yard.
• Residential Chain-Link Limits: If a chain-link fence is used, exposed metal parts must be vinyl-coated or painted a standard dark brown, dark green, or black color. In residential areas, chain-link fences must not be visible from the right-of-way.
• Prohibited Materials: Exposed concrete block, tires, scrap metal, sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallet material, junk, and other discarded items are prohibited as fence material.
• Prohibited Security Materials for Standard Residential Use: Barbed wire, razor wire, and similar fencing materials are not allowed for standard residential use. High-voltage electric fences are prohibited throughout the city.
• Masonry Posts and Walls: Walls or masonry posts require engineer-stamped construction plans approved by the Building Department.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Homeowners association rules, subdivision covenants, and other private restrictions operate independently of City of McDonough regulations and may be more restrictive than the city code.
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 Review: Construction, alteration, or relocation of a fence or wall.
• Site Review: Plot plans, lot surveys, easements, setback dimensions, corner-lot right-of-way offsets, and property-line documentation when a fence is proposed on a lot boundary.
• Visibility Review: Obstructions within the published intersection visibility area.
• Encroachment Review: Fences placed in public rights-of-way, City-owned areas, or utility easements.
• Safety Review: Emergency access issues, fence orientation, and any required public-safety fencing.
• Historic Review: Certificate of appropriateness review where a designated historic property or historic district is involved.
• Maintenance Review: Fence condition, neatness, and required repair of damaged fences. The code states that a damaged fence must be repaired within ninety (90) days, and fencing required for public safety must be repaired immediately unless the Director extends the repair time.
• Project-Specific Height Review: The code allows additional screening-related fence height to be required in connection with a rezoning or special use permit when the published standards for that approval path are met.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of McDonough, 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 Community Development Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of McDonough staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.