GeorgiaFence Rules

DeKalb County

Fence Rules in Brookhaven, Georgia

Last verified: August 28, 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 Brookhaven, the maximum fence height is typically 8 ft in side and rear yards and 4 ft in front yards.

Required for every fence or wall before installation; No fee. The permit is issued the day a complete, compliant application is received; Apply through the city Project Portal with a site plan showing fence location and heights, plus an elevation or image showing a decorative element every 8 ft; Permit counter: 404-637-0500.

On corner lots in Brookhaven: Fences, walls and anything else that blocks the view: 3 ft max in the corner triangle; The triangle: measure 20 ft along each street right-of-way line from the intersection and connect the two ends. Sec. 27-959.

Pool fences in Brookhaven: 48 in minimum barrier, set by the state pool code the city adopts. Sec. 7-23(a)(9); The city has no pool barrier rule of its own.

Fence setbacks in Brookhaven: The fence rules set no setback from a property line for the fence itself; Vehicle gates: at least 10 ft back from the right-of-way or 20 ft from the back of the curb, whichever is farther; No part of a fence may sit in the public right-of-way. Zoning Ordinance Sec. 27-1336(a)(1).

Prohibited fence materials in Brookhaven: No chain link in any yard that runs along a street; On residential lots: no barbed wire, spikes or similar devices; Electric fences: banned on residential lots, and elsewhere in the city allowed only to confine farm animals and only by special permission after a written application. Sec. 7-26.

Fence Regulations

Brookhaven

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required for every fence or wall before installation. No fee. The permit is issued the day a complete, compliant application is received. Apply through the city Project Portal with a site plan showing fence location and heights, plus an elevation or image showing a decorative element every 8 ft. Permit counter: 404-637-0500
Height - Front Yard
4 ft max. Gates may be up to 6 ft.
Height - Side/Rear
8 ft max.
Height Notes
Height is measured from finished grade at the base of the fence or wall to its highest point. Columns, posts and ornaments may rise up to 2 ft above the limit.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Fences, walls and anything else that blocks the view: 3 ft max in the corner triangle. The triangle: measure 20 ft along each street right-of-way line from the intersection and connect the two ends. Sec. 27-959.
Materials Allowed
Any material, except no chain link in a yard that runs along a street. See the bans below.
Materials Prohibited
No chain link in any yard that runs along a street. On residential lots: no barbed wire, spikes or similar devices. Electric fences: banned on residential lots, and elsewhere in the city allowed only to confine farm animals and only by special permission after a written application. Sec. 7-26.
Historic Districts
Lynwood Park is a designated historic district per the city's Historic Resources page. The code sets no approval process and no design standards for fences there.
Setbacks
The fence rules set no setback from a property line for the fence itself. Vehicle gates: at least 10 ft back from the right-of-way or 20 ft from the back of the curb, whichever is farther. No part of a fence may sit in the public right-of-way. Zoning Ordinance Sec. 27-1336(a)(1).
Design Requirements
Finished side faces the neighbor and the street. Any fence or wall over 3 ft must include a column or decorative element at least every 8 ft. Accessory building not placed behind the rear wall of the house: enclose it with an opaque fence, 6 ft minimum, standing at least 6 in above the building, up to 8 ft max. Secs. 27-67, 27-68. No rule on how see-through the fence must be along the road.
Gates
Up to 6 ft in the front yard. Vehicle gates: at least 10 ft back from the right-of-way or 20 ft from the back of the curb, whichever is farther.
Source
Brookhaven Code Secs. 27-953 to 27-956, 27-959
Notes
Governed by the city zoning ordinance, Chapter 27, Article IX, Division 3 (Fences and Walls). Brookhaven sets its own fence rules; DeKalb County's do not apply. Permit counter: 404-637-0500

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 Brookhaven with nearby jurisdictions:

All DeKalb County fence rules →

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