GeorgiaFence Rules

Gilmer County

Fence Rules in Ellijay, Georgia

Last verified: October 22, 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 Ellijay, the maximum fence height is typically 8 ft in side and rear yards and 8 ft in front yards.

Unconfirmed for fences: the zoning code requires a building permit before any land improvement or building work and never says whether a fence counts, so ask Code Enforcement before you build. In the historic district a certificate of appropriateness comes first; see historic districts. In a mapped flood hazard area a development permit comes first.

On corner lots in Ellijay: Nothing over 3 ft above street grade may stand in the triangle formed by the two street lines and a straight line joining points 25 ft from the corner. Both street sides count as front yards; Ellijay Zoning Ordinance Secs. 8.2-3, 8.3.

Pool fences in Ellijay: City rule: leave a 3 ft wide walk space between the pool wall and the pool fence or barrier wall; 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.

Fence setbacks in Ellijay: None from a property line: a fence may stand in any yard or along its edge. No fence may be built in a public right-of-way; Ellijay Zoning Ordinance Sec. 8.2.

Prohibited fence materials in Ellijay: None for a home fence. The city bans no material for a home fence, barbed wire included.

Fence Regulations

Ellijay

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the zoning code requires a building permit before any land improvement or building work and never says whether a fence counts, so ask Code Enforcement before you build. In the historic district a certificate of appropriateness comes first; see historic districts. In a mapped flood hazard area a development permit comes first. Code Enforcement · 706-972-4141 · codeenforce@ellijay.com City Hall, 197 North Main Street, Ellijay, GA 30540
Height - Front Yard
8 ft max, the same limit for front, side and back yards. On a corner lot, keep the corner sight triangle clear; see corner lots.
Height - Side/Rear
8 ft max.
Height Notes
One 8 ft cap covers any fence or freestanding wall in a required yard (the minimum setback strip the zoning code sets along each lot line); the code makes no front, side, back or zoning-district split. Retaining walls are outside the cap. On new construction the fence must be finished before the building is occupied. A fence that forms a required buffer between different land uses must be at least 8 ft tall.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Nothing over 3 ft above street grade may stand in the triangle formed by the two street lines and a straight line joining points 25 ft from the corner. Both street sides count as front yards. Ellijay Zoning Ordinance Secs. 8.2-3, 8.3
Materials Prohibited
None for a home fence. The city bans no material for a home fence, barbed wire included.
Historic Districts
In the city's Historic Preservation District, building, changing or removing a fence needs a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before any grading or building permit can issue. Painting or repainting a fence does not need one. The district map is on file with the city clerk, so ask City Hall whether your address is inside it. Ellijay Code Secs. 48-2, 48-5, 48-8
Setbacks
None from a property line: a fence may stand in any yard or along its edge. No fence may be built in a public right-of-way. Ellijay Zoning Ordinance Sec. 8.2
Design Requirements
None for an ordinary home fence. A fence that forms a required buffer between different land uses: at least 8 ft tall, standard wood or chain link with woven inserts blocking 90% of the view, placed on the buffer's edge nearest the more intense use. Areas of special concern (parts of the city marked on the official zoning map): a material change to the look of any building, structure (a fence included) or major landscape feature needs a certificate of design guideline compliance from the building inspector.
Gates
None. The city has no fence gate rule. Pool gates follow the state pool code.
Floodplain Rules
In a mapped flood hazard area a city development permit comes before any development, which the code defines as any man-made change to the land including buildings or other structures; the flood rules never name fences. In the floodway nothing may go in unless an engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels or widen the floodway. In a mapped flood hazard area along a stream with no flood elevations on record, nothing may go within 20 ft of the top of the bank, or the width of the stream if that is greater, unless an engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels more than 1 ft. Ellijay Code Secs. 42-34, 42-37, 42-72, 42-73
Color Restrictions
None. The city sets no fence color rule, and painting a fence needs no certificate of appropriateness, even in the historic district.
Source
Ellijay Zoning Ordinance Sec. 8.2-6
Notes
Governed by the city's own zoning ordinance (Appendix A of the city code), which sets one 8 ft cap for a fence in any yard and keeps street corners clear above 3 ft. Building permits and code enforcement inside the city come from the city, not Gilmer County, and East Ellijay is a separate city with its own rules. Pool barriers follow Georgia's state pool code. Code Enforcement · 706-972-4141 · City Hall, 197 North Main Street, Ellijay, GA 30540

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 Gilmer County

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

All Gilmer County fence rules →

Ready to build your fence in Ellijay?

FenceWorks of Georgia is Atlanta's premier fence company: residential and commercial installation, repair, and removal. Free quotes, no obligation.

Get My Free QuoteCall 770-452-9900

4.9★ on Google · Google Guaranteed · Financing available