GeorgiaFence Rules

Fulton County

Fence Rules in Johns Creek, 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 Johns Creek, fence height limits are: Most residential yards: 8 ft max from grade, front yard included; In the Town Center Overlay: 4 ft max in the front yard or along a street; side and rear yards, 8 ft max from grade in residential districts; Columns and ornaments may rise up to 3 ft above the limit.

Not required for most single-family fences; Required only for a fence next to a public right-of-way, in the 75 ft stream buffer, or within 2,000 ft of the Chattahoochee River; AG-1 agricultural fences are exempt but must still meet every other fence rule; Fee: $75 residential, $100 commercial, plus a $50 admin fee; Building and Permitting: 678-512-3250.

On corner lots in Johns Creek: Sight triangle: measure 20 ft back from the corner along each street line and join those two points. No fence, wall or hedge inside that triangle may be over 3 ft; Between 3 ft and 15 ft above the street grade, nothing may block the view inside the triangle except a post, column or tree no more than 1 ft across.

Pool fences in Johns Creek: Required; 5 ft minimum, 8 ft maximum; Gate: self-closing, self-latching, at least 36 in wide, opening outward; Keep 5 ft of clear space between the fence and anything climbable next to it; No climbable (ladder-effect) designs; Lock the entrance when the pool is not open for use.

Fence setbacks in Johns Creek: None from an interior property line. A fence may be built to the line; At least 3 ft from a public right-of-way, with a 3 ft landscape strip between the fence and the right-of-way.

Prohibited fence materials in Johns Creek: Wire and plastic fencing, including chain link, may not be used next to a public right-of-way in a single-family detached neighborhood; Exceptions: chain link impacted by a City or State road project may be replaced, and chain link stays allowed as security fencing around stormwater facilities.

Fence Regulations

Johns Creek

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Not required for most single-family fences. Required only for a fence next to a public right-of-way, in the 75 ft stream buffer, or within 2,000 ft of the Chattahoochee River. AG-1 agricultural fences are exempt but must still meet every other fence rule. Fee: $75 residential, $100 commercial, plus a $50 admin fee. Building and Permitting: 678-512-3250
Height - Front Yard
Most residential yards: 8 ft max from grade, front yard included. In the Town Center Overlay: 4 ft max in the front yard or along a street.
Height - Side/Rear
8 ft max from grade in residential districts. Columns and ornaments may rise up to 3 ft above the limit.
Height Notes
Height is measured from grade. Outside the Town Center Overlay the code sets one height for every residential yard, front included: 8 ft. In the Town Center Overlay: 4 ft in the front yard or along a street, 8 ft in the side or rear yard, under Town Center Code Sec. 12A.3.5.9. Columns and ornaments may go 3 ft above the limit.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Sight triangle: measure 20 ft back from the corner along each street line and join those two points. No fence, wall or hedge inside that triangle may be over 3 ft. Between 3 ft and 15 ft above the street grade, nothing may block the view inside the triangle except a post, column or tree no more than 1 ft across. Public Works may require more clearance on a curved road or an unusual intersection. Set by Development Regulations Sec. 113-128.
Materials Allowed
On a single-family detached lot outside the Town Center Overlay, the code names no approved-materials list. It restricts specific materials instead. In the Town Center Overlay, materials are limited to brick, stone, iron, decorative wrought iron, black aluminum and treated wood, or a combination of those that does not make the fence opaque. Barbed wire, razor wire and chain link are prohibited there. Town Center Code Sec. 12A.3.5.9. On any property other than a single-family detached neighborhood, fence and wall materials along a public street or a side yard are limited to wood privacy fence, wrought iron, powder coated aluminum, brick, stone, iron or white wood picket. Two exceptions: chain link on AG-1 land used for farming, and chain link replaced next to a public right-of-way after a City or State road project. Community Standards Sec. 12E.3.C. Poured concrete, common aggregate block or concrete block walls need Director approval of their finish. Where the code or a zoning condition requires a solid fence, it must be impossible to see through.
Materials Prohibited
Wire and plastic fencing, including chain link, may not be used next to a public right-of-way in a single-family detached neighborhood. Exceptions: chain link impacted by a City or State road project may be replaced, and chain link stays allowed as security fencing around stormwater facilities. All chain link must be black or hunter green vinyl coated. Barbed wire: AG-1 farm use only, never on a single-family lot (AG-1 lots included). In nonresidential districts only, security strands at least 6 ft above the ground, three strands max on a new fence. In the Town Center Overlay, barbed wire, razor wire and chain link are prohibited. Town Center Code Sec. 12A.3.5.9.
Historic Districts
None. The city has no historic district and no certificate of appropriateness process for fences.
Setbacks
None from an interior property line. A fence may be built to the line. At least 3 ft from a public right-of-way, with a 3 ft landscape strip between the fence and the right-of-way.
Design Requirements
Finished side faces the neighboring property, on every property line. Where the code or a zoning condition requires a solid fence, it must be impossible to see through.
Gates
No part of a driveway gate within 20 ft of a public right-of-way. Measure that 20 ft in a straight line, at a right angle, from the closest point of the gate to the right-of-way. A gate must never block the right-of-way or required sight distance, whether open, closed or in between.
Floodplain Rules
Fences are allowed in the 100-year floodplain if they have enough open area to let water and debris flow through. City Code Sec. 109-22. Streams and other state waters: a 50 ft undisturbed buffer, plus a further 25 ft where paving and other hard surfaces are prohibited. Encroaching on either needs Board of Zoning Appeals approval. City Code Sec. 109-118. Chattahoochee River Corridor, out to 2,000 ft from either bank: a 50 ft undisturbed buffer and a 150 ft setback for paving and other hard surfaces. City Code Sec. 109-119. Inside that corridor, get a Metropolitan River Protection Act certificate from the Atlanta Regional Commission before any clearing, grading or construction. Development Regulations Sec. 113-61.
Color Restrictions
No bright or primary colors on a fence, or on a wall used as a fence. Set by the city's Fence/Wall Permit Application.
Source
Johns Creek Zoning Sec. 4.11, amended by Ord. O2026-03-05 (3-30-2026)
Notes
Fences are governed by the city's Zoning Sec. 4.11, amended March 2026. Pools have their own rule in Sec. 19.3.12, the Town Center Overlay is stricter, and corner-lot sight lines come from the Development Regulations. Building and Permitting: 678-512-3250

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 Fulton County

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

All Fulton County fence rules →

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