GeorgiaFence Rules

Richmond County

Fence Rules in Augusta, Georgia

Last verified: September 5, 2026

This page is maintained manually and may not reflect very recent ordinance changes. Always confirm current rules with your local permitting office.

For information only. Fence rules change frequently and this site may not reflect every requirement that applies to your property (HOA covenants, easements, variances, recent amendments). Always verify with your local permitting office before building. Full disclaimer

At a glance

In Augusta, fence height limits are: Residential zones: 4 ft max in the front yard, and the city applies this to a side yard facing a street; Agricultural (A) zone: 8 ft. B-2 business zone: 6 ft; Residential zones: 6 ft max in a side or back yard, or 4 ft if the back of your lot runs along a street; Agricultural (A) zone: 8 ft.

Not required for most fences, but a fence in the Downtown, Olde Town or Summerville historic district needs a certificate of appropriateness first; The city states this on its own FAQ; the code has no fence exemption. A temporary construction fence does need a permit; Planning & Development · 706-821-1796; 535 Telfair Street, Suite 300, Augusta, GA 30901.

On corner lots in Augusta: Nothing over 3 ft inside the sight triangle at a corner where either street is under 60 ft wide. The triangle's legs run 60 ft along the centerline of each street from the point where they cross; Does not apply in the B-2, light industrial or heavy industrial zones.

Pool fences in Augusta: Barrier: 48 in tall minimum, measured from the outside. Gap under it: 2 in max over grass, 4 in over concrete; Gate: opens outward, self-closing and self-latching; Openings: 4 in max, or 1 3/4 in for chain link, lattice and any fence whose rails sit under 45 in apart, which puts its rails on the pool side.

Fence setbacks in Augusta: The ordinance sets no fence-specific setback; its fence rules are height rules for the required yards. Ask Planning & Development before building on the line.

Prohibited fence materials in Augusta: None citywide. Code enforcement can cite a fence built of scrap (doors, sheets of tin) or left leaning or missing slats; Historic districts: Olde Town treats chain link and vinyl as incompatible; Summerville bars plastic, PVC, vinyl and similar; Downtown bars chain link and concrete block where visible from the street.

Fence Regulations

Augusta

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Not required for most fences, but a fence in the Downtown, Olde Town or Summerville historic district needs a certificate of appropriateness first. The city states this on its own FAQ; the code has no fence exemption. A temporary construction fence does need a permit. Planning & Development · 706-821-1796 535 Telfair Street, Suite 300, Augusta, GA 30901
Height - Front Yard
Residential zones: 4 ft max in the front yard, and the city applies this to a side yard facing a street. Agricultural (A) zone: 8 ft. B-2 business zone: 6 ft.
Height - Side/Rear
Residential zones: 6 ft max in a side or back yard, or 4 ft if the back of your lot runs along a street. Agricultural (A) zone: 8 ft.
Height Notes
These limits apply inside the required yards, the setback areas along the lot lines. The A zone covers every parcel not placed in a specific zone. The ordinance does not say how fence height is measured and gives no post or column allowance. The city is rewriting its zoning ordinance (public survey through September 2026); until adoption the current ordinance governs.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Nothing over 3 ft inside the sight triangle at a corner where either street is under 60 ft wide. The triangle's legs run 60 ft along the centerline of each street from the point where they cross. Does not apply in the B-2, light industrial or heavy industrial zones. Utility poles, lights, mailboxes, traffic signs and trees trimmed up to 8 ft are exempt.
Materials Allowed
No restriction on a home fence in the zoning ordinance. Historic districts: the design guidelines control the material. A wood picket fence up to 4 ft in the front yard can be approved by staff.
Materials Prohibited
None citywide. Code enforcement can cite a fence built of scrap (doors, sheets of tin) or left leaning or missing slats. Historic districts: Olde Town treats chain link and vinyl as incompatible; Summerville bars plastic, PVC, vinyl and similar; Downtown bars chain link and concrete block where visible from the street.
Historic Districts
Required in the Downtown, Olde Town and Summerville local historic districts: a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before a new fence or a change to one, and no building permit issues without it. Staff can approve a backyard fence on a lot that is not a corner lot, or a wood picket front-yard fence up to 4 ft, without a hearing. Repainting needs no certificate. Olde Town: front fences 42 in max and less than half solid, and the same on a street-facing side yard of a corner lot; a back-yard fence up to 6 ft. Augusta Code Sec. 7-4-16
Setbacks
The ordinance sets no fence-specific setback; its fence rules are height rules for the required yards. Ask Planning & Development before building on the line. A general clause keeps any obstruction 40 ft back from the right-of-way line of a main road and 30 ft from other streets, and about 25 named roads have deeper setbacks, yet the city applies the 4 ft front-yard fence rule in practice.
Design Requirements
No finished-side, opacity or spacing rule for a home fence citywide. Fences must be kept structurally sound, uniform or compatible in color and structure, not leaning or missing slats. Olde Town Historic District: the finished side faces the street or neighbor.
Gates
No gate rule for a home fence. Pool gates follow the state pool code.
Floodplain Rules
The flood ordinance does not name fences, but a fence is a structure, so building one in a special flood hazard area needs a development and flood permit from Planning & Development first. Within 100 ft of the Savannah River bank no structure may be built and the natural vegetation stays undisturbed. Augusta Code Sec. 8-1-18; Zoning Sec. 25-D
Color Restrictions
No color list. A fence must be uniform or compatible in color and structure. Repainting a fence in a historic district needs no certificate of appropriateness.
Source
Augusta Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Code App. B) Sec. 8-1(b); Sec. 3-6
Notes
Governed by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of Augusta-Richmond County, a consolidated city-county government (Appendix B of the Augusta Code). Hephzibah and Blythe are separate cities with their own rules. Planning & Development · 706-821-1796 · 535 Telfair Street, Suite 300, Augusta, GA 30901

Rules can vary within a jurisdiction. Historic districts and zoning overlays often have stricter requirements. Look up your exact address to confirm which rules apply to your property.

Other jurisdictions in Richmond County

Fence rules change from one city and unincorporated area to the next. Compare Augusta with nearby jurisdictions:

All Richmond County fence rules →

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