GeorgiaFence Rules

Henry County

Fence Rules in McDonough, 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 McDonough, the maximum fence height is typically 6 ft in side and rear yards and 4 ft in front yards.

Permit required for building, altering or moving any fence or wall; No permit required for: repairs with no structural change, like-for-like replacement in the same spot, and adding a gate up to 8 ft wide to an existing fence.

On corner lots in McDonough: On a corner lot, both the front and the side fence must sit at least 5 ft back from the public right-of-way, because water lines occupy the first five feet of most lots; In every district, nothing between 2.5 ft and 15 ft tall within 20 ft of where two street right-of-way lines meet, or a street meets a railroad right-of-way.

Pool fences in McDonough: 5 ft minimum around every pool; No opening may pass a 4 in ball. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching. The fence must be kept in good condition and must not block visibility at road intersections; Building a pool requires a permit from the building official; Sec. 17.100.240.

Fence setbacks in McDonough: Never in a public right-of-way or on city-owned land; The whole fence, posts, footings and anything overhanging, must sit inside your lot; a fence in a required side or back yard may go on the property line with written consent from every adjoining owner or a certified survey.

Prohibited fence materials in McDonough: No woven wire or metal fabric (chain link, hog wire or barbed wire) extending into a front yard; Exposed concrete block, tires, scrap metal, sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallets, junk and other discarded items, in every district.

Fence Regulations

McDonough

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Permit required for building, altering or moving any fence or wall. No permit required for: repairs with no structural change, like-for-like replacement in the same spot, and adding a gate up to 8 ft wide to an existing fence. The application needs a plot plan or lot survey, a drawing of the fence or wall, and written consent from every adjoining owner or a certified survey if it sits on a property line. Walls and masonry posts need engineer-stamped plans approved by the building department.
Height - Front Yard
4 ft max within the required front setback at homes.
Height - Side/Rear
6 ft max in the rest of a home lot. Exceptions: a fence or wall around an approved stormwater pond may be 6 ft, a tennis court fence may be 12 ft, and a lot with streets front and back may have a 6 ft fence in the no-access easement.
Height Notes
Height is measured from ground level to the highest point of the fence or wall. Setbacks are measured from the property line or the existing street right-of-way line. Subdivision entrance features: 10 ft max. The director may grant an administrative height variance.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
On a corner lot, both the front and the side fence must sit at least 5 ft back from the public right-of-way, because water lines occupy the first five feet of most lots. In every district, nothing between 2.5 ft and 15 ft tall within 20 ft of where two street right-of-way lines meet, or a street meets a railroad right-of-way.
Materials Allowed
Pressure-treated wood (including cedar, cypress or pine), brick, metal, or chain link. Chain link: all exposed metal vinyl-coated or painted dark brown, dark green or black, and at homes it may not be visible from the right-of-way. A wall or fence extending into the required front yard on a lot under 3 acres must be brick, stone, wood, wrought iron, cast metal or split rail.
Materials Prohibited
No woven wire or metal fabric (chain link, hog wire or barbed wire) extending into a front yard. Exposed concrete block, tires, scrap metal, sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallets, junk and other discarded items, in every district. Barbed wire and razor wire, in every district except industrial, where they still need application to and approval by the director. High-voltage electric fences, citywide. Low-voltage electric fences: industrial districts only, 6 to 8 ft, or up to 10 ft with an administrative variance, and at least 25 ft from property lines next to residential zoning.
Historic Districts
A Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission is required before any material change in appearance on a historic property or in a historic district. A material change expressly includes walls, fences, steps and pavements. Sec. 15.44.020 and Sec. 15.44.050.
Setbacks
Never in a public right-of-way or on city-owned land. The whole fence, posts, footings and anything overhanging, must sit inside your lot; a fence in a required side or back yard may go on the property line with written consent from every adjoining owner or a certified survey. No fence may block access to a utility easement between lots shown on an approved plat or plan.
Design Requirements
Finished side faces out, toward the neighbors. If the structural supports are mostly on one side, that side must face the inside of your property. Masonry walls must be finished the same on all sides. The owner must keep the fence in good repair. A fence damaged by accident or an act of God must be repaired within 90 days, and fencing required for public safety must be repaired immediately. The director may extend the repair time. An existing legal nonconforming fence may stay until it is removed, extended or altered, at which point it must be brought into conformity.
Gates
Adding a gate up to 8 ft wide to an existing fence, with no structural change, needs no permit. Pool gates must be self-closing and self-latching. No fence may be installed where, in the fire chief's opinion, it prevents or unduly restricts emergency access to the property.
Color Restrictions
Chain link: all exposed metal must be vinyl-coated or painted a standard dark brown, dark green or black.
Source
McDonough Zoning Code Sec. 17.120.050 (Ord. No. 25-01-02, 1-2-2025)
Notes
Governed by the city's own zoning code, Sec. 17.120.050; McDonough does not follow the Henry County ULDC. Planning and Zoning, 136 Keys Ferry Street: 770-957-3915

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 Henry County

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

All Henry County fence rules →

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