GeorgiaFence Rules

DeKalb County

Fence Rules in Avondale Estates, Georgia

Last verified: August 31, 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 Avondale Estates, fence height limits are: front yards, Fences are not allowed in the front yard of a home lot; Commercial, mixed-use and multi-unit: 3 ft max; Most homes: 6 ft max in side and back yards, same for commercial, mixed-use and multi-unit; Local historic district: side yards 4 ft max, or 6 ft set back 20 ft from the house's front wall.

Required before building, altering or repairing a fence; Apply through Planning and Development: 404-294-5400; In the historic district, a certificate of appropriateness may also be needed before the building permit can be issued.

On corner lots in Avondale Estates: Nothing over 3 ft (fences, walls and parked vehicles included) inside the corner triangle: the area formed by measuring 20 ft along each street right-of-way line from the intersection.

Pool fences in Avondale Estates: No city rule of its own. Georgia's state pool code governs: 48 in minimum barrier.

Fence setbacks in Avondale Estates: The fence rules state no distance from a property line; Table 21-6.1.1 lets a fence stand inside the required street, side and rear setbacks, and where it lists no distance a feature may extend up to 2 ft from the line; No fence or wall may block the flow of water in any drainage way, swale, ditch or low spot.

Prohibited fence materials in Avondale Estates: No vinyl fencing anywhere in the city; No chain link in commercial, mixed-use or multi-unit districts; No barbed wire, spikes or similar devices, and no electric fencing.

Fence Regulations

Avondale Estates

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required before building, altering or repairing a fence. Apply through Planning and Development: 404-294-5400. In the historic district, a certificate of appropriateness may also be needed before the building permit can be issued.
Height - Front Yard
Fences are not allowed in the front yard of a home lot. Commercial, mixed-use and multi-unit: 3 ft max.
Height - Side/Rear
Most homes: 6 ft max in side and back yards, same for commercial, mixed-use and multi-unit. Local historic district: side yards 4 ft max, or 6 ft set back 20 ft from the house's front wall.
Height Notes
Height is measured from finished grade at the base of the fence or wall to its highest point. On a berm or mound, the combined height counts; gaining height by filling or mounding is not allowed. On a slope, the fence must follow or step with the ground so it never exceeds the limit at any point. Columns, posts and ornaments may rise up to 1 ft above the limit. The city manager can grant up to 1 extra ft for a wall or 2 extra ft for a fence.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Nothing over 3 ft (fences, walls and parked vehicles included) inside the corner triangle: the area formed by measuring 20 ft along each street right-of-way line from the intersection.
Materials Allowed
Any material except those banned below; the code publishes no approved list. In the historic district, materials may also need a certificate of appropriateness.
Materials Prohibited
No vinyl fencing anywhere in the city. No chain link in commercial, mixed-use or multi-unit districts. No barbed wire, spikes or similar devices, and no electric fencing.
Historic Districts
The city has a local historic district with adopted design guidelines. Fences there are minor works: the Code Enforcement Officer approves them, not the Historic Preservation Commission. Front yard fences, gates and arbors are not permitted. Side yard fences are allowed. A privacy or containment fence must sit at least 20 ft back from the front wall of the house. Anything not visible from the public street is allowed. Ch. 5, Art. VIII and the city's Historic District Guidelines. Planner and Permit Services Coordinator: 404-294-5400
Setbacks
The fence rules state no distance from a property line. Table 21-6.1.1 lets a fence stand inside the required street, side and rear setbacks, and where it lists no distance a feature may extend up to 2 ft from the line. No fence or wall may block the flow of water in any drainage way, swale, ditch or low spot.
Design Requirements
Finished side faces the neighbor and the public right-of-way. Fences and walls over 3 ft must include a column or decorative element at least every 20 ft. A fence or wall around an entire development is prohibited; that does not apply to a single house lot.
Gates
Vehicle gates are prohibited unless you obtain a conditional use permit. Commercial, mixed-use and multi-unit front yards: gates up to 4 ft.
Floodplain Rules
No fence in the regulatory floodway. Only bridges, culverts, roadways and utilities may encroach there (Ch. 20, Art. V). Elsewhere in a mapped flood hazard area, a floodplain permit is required before work starts. No fence or wall may block the flow of water in any drainage way, swale, ditch or low spot.
Color Restrictions
The historic district may have color or finish requirements.
Source
Avondale Estates Zoning Div. 6.5
Notes
Governed by Zoning Division 6.5 (Secs. 21-6.5.1 to 21-6.5.4). Planning and Development: 404-294-5400

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 DeKalb County

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

All DeKalb County fence rules →

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