GeorgiaFence Rules

DeKalb County

Fence Rules in Lithonia, Georgia

Last verified: September 4, 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 Lithonia, fence height limits are: front yards, 4 ft max in residential districts; On a corner lot this applies along both streets; Most side and back yards: 8 ft max for any fence or wall other than a retaining wall; In a residential district, 4 ft max where a side or the back of your lot runs along a street.

Required only as a zoning development permit before work on the land starts, except for individual structures in an approved residential subdivision or development (Sec. 27-957); The city's permit checklist, permit application and fee schedule name no fence; In a designated historic district, a certificate of appropriateness comes first.

On corner lots in Lithonia: Both street frontages count as front yards, so in a residential district the 4 ft front-yard limit applies along both streets; A corner lot has no rear yard; Sight triangle: no fence, wall, plant material or other obstruction within 15 ft of where two street right-of-way lines meet, or where a street meets a railroad.

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

Fence setbacks in Lithonia: Not in the public right-of-way without the Zoning Administrator's approval. Lithonia allows that exception where most cities prohibit right-of-way fences outright.

Prohibited fence materials in Lithonia: None. The city bans no fence material, and there is no front-yard chain-link ban.

Fence Regulations

Lithonia

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required only as a zoning development permit before work on the land starts, except for individual structures in an approved residential subdivision or development (Sec. 27-957). The city's permit checklist, permit application and fee schedule name no fence. In a designated historic district, a certificate of appropriateness comes first.
Height - Front Yard
4 ft max in residential districts. On a corner lot this applies along both streets.
Height - Side/Rear
Most side and back yards: 8 ft max for any fence or wall other than a retaining wall. In a residential district, 4 ft max where a side or the back of your lot runs along a street.
Height Notes
The code doesn't say how fence height is measured. Where the code requires a wall or fence to be built, it must be finished before the main building gets its certificate of occupancy.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Both street frontages count as front yards, so in a residential district the 4 ft front-yard limit applies along both streets. A corner lot has no rear yard. Sight triangle: no fence, wall, plant material or other obstruction within 15 ft of where two street right-of-way lines meet, or where a street meets a railroad.
Materials Allowed
Chain link is expressly allowed. The code's definition of a fence lists chain link, wire, metal, wrought iron, vinyl, plastic, and other materials approved by the director of public works.
Materials Prohibited
None. The city bans no fence material, and there is no front-yard chain-link ban.
Historic Districts
Historic Preservation Ordinance O-19-09-01 counts erecting or altering a fence or wall as a material change in appearance, so a certificate of appropriateness is required for a designated historic property or a property in a designated historic district. A building permit will not be issued without proof of a certificate. The certificate application has a fence and wall checkbox. Historic Preservation Commission, 6920 Main St, 770-482-8136, meets the third Tuesday at 6:00 pm.
Setbacks
Not in the public right-of-way without the Zoning Administrator's approval. Lithonia allows that exception where most cities prohibit right-of-way fences outright.
Design Requirements
None in the zoning ordinance, which sets fence height and location only. There is no finished-side or opacity rule. Core and Downtown districts: where a building does not fill the required build-to line along the street, a fence or wall between 2 ft 6 in and 4 ft must fill it. Lithonia Form Based Code, Sec. 27-588. Downtown district: parking within 10 ft of the sidewalk requires a landscape boundary or a 36 in fence.
Gates
Not addressed in the city code.
Source
Lithonia Zoning Ordinance No. 14-05-01, Secs. 27-783, 27-787 and 27-788
Notes
Governed by Zoning Ordinance Sec. 27-787. Planning and Zoning: 770-482-8136

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 Lithonia with nearby jurisdictions:

All DeKalb County fence rules →

Ready to build your fence in Lithonia?

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