Fence Rules in Roswell, Georgia

In Roswell, fence height limits are: Solid fence: 4 ft max; Up to the 6 ft maximum is allowed only if the entire fence is 50% see-through; These limits run the full width of the lot in front of the house. The 8 ft side and rear limit starts behind the front of the house; side and rear yards, 8 ft max in a side or back yard.

Not normally required: the city's permit FAQ states building permits aren't usually needed for fences; Exception: a fence installed as part of a swimming pool, which is permitted and inspected with the pool; When a permit is needed, apply online through the Permitting and Licensing HUB at roswellgov.com/HUB, not by email, paper or walk-in.

On corner lots in Roswell: Street corner sight triangle: 13 ft from the cross street curb, then 240 to 390 ft along it, by speed limit and turn; Driveway sight triangle: two 15 ft legs, along the street right-of-way line and the driveway edge; Nothing in either may block over 25% of the view between 30 in and 96 in above the road. Sec. 11.4.6.

Pool fences in Roswell: Barrier: 48 in minimum, with self-closing, self-latching gates. Roswell Code Sec. 5.3.1; The pool area or the whole property must be fenced or walled to prevent uncontrolled access from the street or neighboring lots; No pool in a required front yard. Water at least 10 ft from any side or rear property line. UDC Sec. 9.7.25.

Fence setbacks in Roswell: Not allowed in any required drainage or utility easement; No numeric setback from a property line or right-of-way: the controlling placement rules are the easement ban and the sight triangles at driveways and street corners; A fence may be built to the property line but not into the public right-of-way.

Prohibited fence materials in Roswell: Tires, junk and other discarded materials in any fence or screening wall; Chain link, barbed wire and concertina wire: not in a residential yard, except chain link around a tennis court, community pool or sports field. Never in the Historic Overlay District.