GeorgiaFence Rules

Oconee County

Fence Rules in North High Shoals, Georgia

Last verified: October 23, 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 North High Shoals, fence height limits are: front yards, Only in residential (R) zoning, 4 ft max in the required front yard. Other zoning: no limit stated, except near a street corner. Farm lots may count as R; ask Town Hall; side and rear yards, Only in residential (R) zoning, 8 ft max. Other zoning: none stated, except near a street corner.

Unconfirmed for fences: the zoning code requires a building permit for any structure, and the town's subdivision rules count a fence as a structure, but no town permit rule, form or fee names fences. Ask Town Hall before you build; In a mapped flood hazard area, a town flood development permit comes first (see floodplain rules).

On corner lots in North High Shoals: In every zoning district, nothing between 3 ft and 15 ft high within 20 ft of where two street, road or railroad right-of-way lines meet. Utility poles, light and sign posts and tree trunks are exempt; On a corner lot, the front yard faces the street along the lot's shorter side, and the back yard is at the opposite end.

Pool fences in North High Shoals: Town rule: a good quality fence at least 4 ft tall around the whole pool area, with gates kept closed and locked when no owner or resident is at the pool; 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 North High Shoals: None stated for a home fence. The town's yard setback rules do not keep a fence out of any yard; the height limits and the corner rule still apply; The code keeps accessory structures, such as a detached garage, to side and back yards and 5 ft from lot lines, and does not say whether a fence counts as one. Ask Town Hall.

Prohibited fence materials in North High Shoals: None. The town code bans no fence material.

Fence Regulations

North High Shoals

Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the zoning code requires a building permit for any structure, and the town's subdivision rules count a fence as a structure, but no town permit rule, form or fee names fences. Ask Town Hall before you build. In a mapped flood hazard area, a town flood development permit comes first (see floodplain rules). The Town Council votes on building permits at its monthly meeting, and Bureau Veritas handles building inspections. Town Hall, Town Clerk · 706-769-4289 · Mon, Wed and Fri 8:30 am to 5 pm 260 Hillsboro Rd, Bishop, GA 30621
Height - Front Yard
Only in residential (R) zoning, 4 ft max in the required front yard. Other zoning: no limit stated, except near a street corner. Farm lots may count as R; ask Town Hall.
Height - Side/Rear
Only in residential (R) zoning, 8 ft max. Other zoning: none stated, except near a street corner.
Height Notes
The code never says which districts count as R. It lists R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts, but also calls farm (A-1, A-2) and mobile home districts residential in its pool rule. The required front yard is the minimum distance a house must sit back from the street, not always the whole area in front of the house. The code does not say how fence height is measured.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
In every zoning district, nothing between 3 ft and 15 ft high within 20 ft of where two street, road or railroad right-of-way lines meet. Utility poles, light and sign posts and tree trunks are exempt. On a corner lot, the front yard faces the street along the lot's shorter side, and the back yard is at the opposite end. North High Shoals Zoning Regulations Sec. 601
Materials Prohibited
None. The town code bans no fence material.
Historic Districts
The town code creates no local historic district and requires no review for fences. Its preservation rule only requires upkeep of buildings and structures over 70 years old. The High Shoals Historic District is on the National Register, a federal listing, not a local rule.
Setbacks
None stated for a home fence. The town's yard setback rules do not keep a fence out of any yard; the height limits and the corner rule still apply. The code keeps accessory structures, such as a detached garage, to side and back yards and 5 ft from lot lines, and does not say whether a fence counts as one. Ask Town Hall.
Design Requirements
None for a home fence. Business and utility sites such as outdoor storage yards, junkyards and utility stations have their own screening or security fence rules.
Gates
None for a home fence, apart from pool gates (see pool fences).
Floodplain Rules
In a mapped flood hazard area: A town development permit comes before any development, which the flood rules define as any man-made change to the land. Floodway (the stream channel and nearby land that must stay open to carry floodwater): no new construction or other development unless a registered professional engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels or widen the floodway. Along a stream where no floodway is mapped and no other flood data are available: no encroachment, such as a building or fill, within the stream's width or 20 ft of the top of the bank, whichever is greater, unless an engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels more than 1 ft. The flood rules never name fences, though the zoning code lists fences as allowed in its Flood Prone district. Ask Town Hall. North High Shoals Code Sec. 7-7; Zoning Regulations Sec. 1212
Color Restrictions
None.
Source
North High Shoals Zoning Regulations Sec. 700
Notes
Governed by the town's own 1990 zoning regulations, not Oconee County's code. A new town development code is in draft and not adopted. Town Hall, Town Clerk · 706-769-4289 · 260 Hillsboro Rd, Bishop, GA 30621

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 Oconee County

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

All Oconee County fence rules →

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