GeorgiaFence Rules

Houston County

Fence Rules in Perry, Georgia

Last verified: September 5, 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 Perry, fence height limits are: Solid fencing: 30 in max in a front yard in a residential district. Only the opaque part is capped; a see-through picket or iron fence is not; Solid fencing: 8 ft max in side and back yards in a residential district, or the lowest eave of the house if that is lower. Only the opaque part is capped.

Unconfirmed for fences: the code names no fence permit, and the city publishes no fence application or fee. Ask Community Development before you build; In a historic district or the Downtown Development Overlay District a certificate of appropriateness comes before any building permit.

On corner lots in Perry: Nothing that blocks the view between 2 1/2 ft and 10 ft above the ground within 20 ft of the point where two street or railroad right-of-way lines meet, in every district except the C-3 central business district. A fence also may not block sight lines where a driveway meets a street.

Pool fences in Perry: 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; Openings: 4 in max, or 1 3/4 in for chain link, lattice and any fence whose rails sit under 45 in apart, which puts its rails on the pool side.

Fence setbacks in Perry: None. A fence may be built to the property line and inside any building setback, with three exceptions: at least 10 ft back from the right-of-way of a main or through road (an arterial or collector street); clear of sight lines at street and driveway intersections; and the chain link limits in business districts.

Prohibited fence materials in Perry: Residential districts: none; Business and mixed-use districts outside downtown: no chain link in the front yard (or in the front setback of an empty lot), and no barbed wire. Downtown C-3 district: no chain link anywhere; Historic districts: the design guidelines discourage chain link and other nontraditional materials.

Fence Regulations

Perry

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the code names no fence permit, and the city publishes no fence application or fee. Ask Community Development before you build. In a historic district or the Downtown Development Overlay District a certificate of appropriateness comes before any building permit. Department of Community Development, Building Permits and Inspections · 478-988-2720 741 Main Street, Perry, GA 31069 Historic district questions: Community Planner · 478-988-2702
Height - Front Yard
Solid fencing: 30 in max in a front yard in a residential district. Only the opaque part is capped; a see-through picket or iron fence is not.
Height - Side/Rear
Solid fencing: 8 ft max in side and back yards in a residential district, or the lowest eave of the house if that is lower. Only the opaque part is capped.
Height Notes
Measured from the finished ground at the base of the fence. A privacy fence is one you cannot see through when looking straight at it. The same 30 in and 8 ft opacity caps apply in business and mixed-use districts. Industrial districts, utility properties and recreation areas: no height limit.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Nothing that blocks the view between 2 1/2 ft and 10 ft above the ground within 20 ft of the point where two street or railroad right-of-way lines meet, in every district except the C-3 central business district. A fence also may not block sight lines where a driveway meets a street. The street side of a corner lot counts as a side yard; the city does not lower the fence height there.
Materials Allowed
Wood, masonry, stone, wire, iron, brick or concrete, or another material the department approves. Chain link is allowed in residential districts.
Materials Prohibited
Residential districts: none. Business and mixed-use districts outside downtown: no chain link in the front yard (or in the front setback of an empty lot), and no barbed wire. Downtown C-3 district: no chain link anywhere. Historic districts: the design guidelines discourage chain link and other nontraditional materials.
Historic Districts
Required in the Washington-Evergreen, Swift Street and Downtown historic districts: a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before a new fence goes up, and no building permit issues without one. Repairing or painting an existing fence, and temporary construction fencing, need none. Design guidelines (April 2023): new fences behind the front face of the house, in traditional materials (usually wood), 36 to 54 in tall; a privacy fence only in the back yard, up to 8 ft; chain link pet enclosures out of public view or screened. Downtown Development Overlay District: a separate certificate of appropriateness from the city administrator for any exterior change. No fee unless work starts before approval ($238). Community Planner · 478-988-2702
Setbacks
None. A fence may be built to the property line and inside any building setback, with three exceptions: at least 10 ft back from the right-of-way of a main or through road (an arterial or collector street); clear of sight lines at street and driveway intersections; and the chain link limits in business districts. A fence in a public right-of-way or easement comes out at the owner's expense when the city needs the space. Pool decking and fencing: 5 ft from any property line, or no closer to a side line than the house, whichever is greater.
Design Requirements
Only the limits on how solid a fence can be: 30 in in a front yard, 8 ft or the lowest eave of the house at the sides and back. Upkeep: keep the fence in good condition, and wood that is not decay-resistant painted or otherwise protected from the weather, with peeling paint fixed. Perry Code Sec. 5-33(b)
Gates
None for a home fence in the city code. Pool gates follow the state pool code: open outward, self-closing and self-latching.
Floodplain Rules
Nothing encroaches on a floodplain or floodway, including fill, construction and other development, without a registered engineer's certification that it will not raise flood levels. On streams without a mapped flood zone the same certification is needed inside the 100-year floodplain. The flood rules do not name fences, but they define a structure broadly enough to include one. Perry LMO Sec. 7-1.5
Color Restrictions
None for a home fence. Business and mixed-use districts outside downtown: chain link visible from a street must be coated in dark green or black vinyl.
Source
Perry Land Management Ordinance Sec. 4-4.3(H)
Notes
Governed by the city's Land Management Ordinance, Section 4-4.3(H), in force since January 1, 2018, which limits how tall a fence may be solid rather than how tall it may be. The city's own code applies to every lot inside the city limits. Where a subdivision covenant is stricter, the covenant controls, but the city does not enforce it. Department of Community Development · 478-988-2720 · 741 Main Street, Perry, GA 31069

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 Houston County

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

All Houston County fence rules →

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