FENCE RULES – SANDY SPRINGS (CITY), GEORGIA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Sandy Springs, subject to local regulations.
The Sandy Springs Development Code contains the main residential fence and wall standards, including permit review, placement, height, and design rules. The City’s published Fence Permits page states the City’s current permit process, and additional visibility standards appear in the Sandy Springs Technical Manual. Right-of-way and restricted fencing material rules also appear in the Sandy Springs Code of Ordinances.
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 Sandy Springs Development Code, Sandy Springs Code of Ordinances, Sandy Springs Technical Manual, and the City of Sandy Springs Fence Permits and Building and Construction pages as of April 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The governing authority is the City of Sandy Springs.
Residential fence rules are not published in a single consolidated fence chapter. The main standards appear in Development Code Sec. 8.3.10, Fences and Walls, with permit procedures in Sec. 11.5.4.E, Fence or Wall Permit. Street and intersection visibility standards appear in Sec. 10.4.18 and in the Sandy Springs Technical Manual. Street right-of-way restrictions appear in Code Sec. 50-25, and citywide restricted fencing materials appear in Code Sec. 38-65.
The published departments and offices tied to fence administration include the Building Division, Fire Marshal’s Office, Department of Community Development, Planning and Zoning Division, and Department of Public Works.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Fence Permit Required: A Fence Permit is required to install a new fence or gate, or to replace an existing fence where the replacement changes placement, height, materials, or design.
• Walls Treated as Fences: A wall that does not retain earth is treated as a fence for permitting purposes. A wall that does retain earth requires a retaining wall permit.
• Electronic Vehicular Gates: Electronic vehicular gates require a building permit.
• Pool Enclosures: A swimming pool enclosure fence is approved as part of the pool permit rather than through a separate fence permit.
• Temporary Construction Security: A fence permit is not required for temporary security fencing during construction.
• Application Materials: The City’s published fence permit materials call for a site plan or survey showing the proposed fence location, and details for each proposed fence, gate, and masonry pier showing height, design, material, dimensions, and color.
• Inspections: Inspections are required for residential fences over seven (7) feet in height, and for masonry piers and vehicular or electronic gates.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Planning and Zoning Division before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
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 Encroachment: Fence and wall footings must be entirely contained within the property and cannot encroach onto a property line.
• Street Right-of-Way: It is unlawful to construct a permanent feature such as a fence in the street right-of-way without a permit from the Department of Public Works.
• Obstructions: Fences, walls, hedges, and other vegetation must not obstruct minimum sight distance requirements, prohibit proper lines of sight for public safety and law enforcement, impede the flow of water or the normal pattern of natural wildlife, or impair or block the vision of vehicle drivers so as to constitute a safety hazard.
• 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
• Area Between Primary Street and Front Wall Plane: A solid or opaque fence or wall located between the primary street and the front wall plane of a house may be no more than 4 feet in height.
• Front Fence Design Exception: A fence in that front area may exceed 4 feet only if it uses a spaced picket design approved by the Director. The gap between pickets must be at least 2 inches. The picket-to-opening ratio must be at least 2:1 for vertical pickets and 1:1 for horizontal elements.
• Side and Rear Yards: Other residential fences and walls, including side and rear yard fences and walls, may contain a solid or opaque fence or wall up to 8 feet above grade.
• Measurement: Fence and wall height is measured from finished grade to the highest point of the fence or wall between columns or posts.
• Columns and Ornaments: Columns and ornaments may extend up to 3 feet above the otherwise applicable maximum fence height.
• Corner Lots and Intersections: Where a driveway intersects a public or private right-of-way, or where a property abuts the intersection of two public or private rights-of-way, unobstructed sight distance must be maintained within the sight triangle area.
• 20-Foot Miter Triangle: On a corner lot, within the area formed by the street-side lot lines and a line joining points 20 feet from their intersection, there may be no fence, wall, or hedge higher than 3 feet.
• Other Visibility Obstructions: Within that same corner area, there may be no obstruction to vision, other than a post, column, or tree, exceeding 1 foot in greatest cross-sectional dimension between 3 feet and 15 feet above the established grade of either intersecting street.
• Director Authority at Intersections: The Director may require additional visibility restrictions based on the horizontal or vertical curvature of the roadway or other unique design features of the intersection.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Fence Materials: The Development Code states that fences must be constructed of wood and/or metal/ornamental metal.
• Wall Materials: Walls must have an opaque base with at least one foot of exposed height and must be made of brick, stone, stucco, or other durable opaque material, with possible use of metal or wood pickets for ornamentation.
• Prohibited Citywide Materials: The Code of Ordinances prohibits electric or electrified fences, fences constructed of barbed wire or concertina wire, and fences consisting solely of horizontal metal wires anywhere within the city limits.
• Other Residential Material Limits: The code does not specify additional standard residential fence material or finish rules beyond the published requirements above.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private covenants, deed restrictions, and HOA rules operate independently from City of Sandy Springs regulations and may be more restrictive than city rules. The city does not enforce private agreements.
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: Review of a new fence or wall that does not retain earth, a non-vehicular gate, or a replacement fence that changes placement, height, materials, or design.
• Gate Review: Review by the Building Division and Fire Marshal’s Office for vehicular and electronic gates, with a separate building permit required for electronic vehicular gates.
• Inspection Triggers: Field inspections for fences over seven (7) feet, masonry piers, and vehicular or electronic gates.
• Visibility Hazards: Review of fences, walls, hedges, or other obstructions that affect required sight distance at corner lots, driveways, or right-of-way intersections.
• Right-of-Way Encroachments: Review by the Department of Public Works where a fence is proposed within the street right-of-way.
• Restricted Materials: Enforcement of the citywide prohibition on electric or electrified fencing, barbed wire, concertina wire, and fences consisting solely of horizontal metal wires.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Sandy Springs, 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 Division and the Planning and Zoning Division and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Sandy Springs staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.