GeorgiaFence Rules

Gwinnett County

Fence Rules in Snellville, Georgia

Last verified: August 29, 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 Snellville, the maximum fence height is typically 8 ft in side and rear yards and 4 ft in front yards.

No building permit for a home fence 8 ft or shorter, per the city's Fences and Walls Information Sheet; A wall over 4 ft, measured from the top of the footing, does need a building permit; Lots that are not residential: a permit is required for any fence or wall unless Planning and Development exempts it; Planning and Development, 770-985-3513.

On corner lots in Snellville: Two 8 ft allowances: in the front yard where the side of the house also sits in the front yard, and along the street side of the lot when the fence is set back at least half of the required street-side setback; Nothing sight-blocking higher than 30 in is allowed inside the sight triangle at the corner where two streets meet.

Pool fences in Snellville: 4 ft minimum fence or other barrier all the way around the pool; If the wall of an above ground pool is the barrier, the ladder or steps must lock, come off, or be secured.

Fence setbacks in Snellville: None from the property line on a home lot; Not in a drainage easement without written City permission, or in a septic drain field; Front yard or one facing a side street: within 2 ft of the line (Sec. 201-1.6.E); At an intersection, nothing over 30 in within the sight triangle: 20 ft where two streets meet, 15 ft at an alley.

Prohibited fence materials in Snellville: No chain link, hog wire or barbed wire in a front yard or a side facing a street; Razor wire: not allowed on a home lot; Never allowed in any district: exposed concrete block, tires, scrap or sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallets, junk or other discarded items.

Fence Regulations

Snellville

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
No building permit for a home fence 8 ft or shorter, per the city's Fences and Walls Information Sheet. A wall over 4 ft, measured from the top of the footing, does need a building permit. Lots that are not residential: a permit is required for any fence or wall unless Planning and Development exempts it. Planning and Development, 770-985-3513
Height - Front Yard
4 ft max. A gate or gatepost within the fence may be up to 6 ft.
Height - Side/Rear
8 ft max. On a corner lot, the side along the second street has its own 8 ft allowance: see corner lots.
Height Notes
Snellville has its own development ordinance and does not follow Gwinnett County's rules. Height exceptions: stormwater pond enclosures up to 6 ft, tennis court fences up to 12 ft, the two corner lot allowances, up to 8 ft along the back of a lot that runs along a second street next to a required no-access planted strip, and extra height where City Council requires screening as a rezoning or special use condition. Subdivision entrance features may reach 10 ft with city review of a landscape plan, site plan and design. How height is measured: from the top of the street curb, the alley surface, or the official grade, whichever is higher; on a line between two lots, from the average grade on the lower lot's side.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Two 8 ft allowances: in the front yard where the side of the house also sits in the front yard, and along the street side of the lot when the fence is set back at least half of the required street-side setback. Nothing sight-blocking higher than 30 in is allowed inside the sight triangle at the corner where two streets meet.
Materials Allowed
Front yard or a side that faces a street, lots under 3 acres: decorative only, in brick, stone, wood, true hard coat stucco, wrought iron or split rail. Wire fencing in a front yard: lots of 3 acres or more only. Stormwater pond enclosures may be vinyl coated chain link.
Materials Prohibited
No chain link, hog wire or barbed wire in a front yard or a side facing a street. Razor wire: not allowed on a home lot. Never allowed in any district: exposed concrete block, tires, scrap or sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallets, junk or other discarded items.
Historic Districts
None. The city has no local historic district or fence review requirement.
Setbacks
None from the property line on a home lot. Not in a drainage easement without written City permission, or in a septic drain field. Front yard or one facing a side street: within 2 ft of the line (Sec. 201-1.6.E). At an intersection, nothing over 30 in within the sight triangle: 20 ft where two streets meet, 15 ft at an alley.
Design Requirements
Fences and walls must be kept structurally sound and in good repair. Front yard or street-side fences on lots under 3 acres must be decorative. No finished-side rule. Downtown (Towne Center) overlay: businesses need a variance to put a fixed fence in a front or street-side yard, and movable fences up to 30 in are allowed around outdoor dining.
Gates
A gate or gatepost in a front yard fence may be up to 6 ft even though the fence itself is capped at 4 ft. Business districts: a column or gatepost may be 6 ft where the fence is capped at 5 ft.
Floodplain Rules
In a mapped floodplain, a fence must have enough open area to let water and debris flow through freely (Sec. 205-3.2.B). Same for a fence around a pool or tennis court there.
Source
Snellville UDO 207-2.3 (adopted 6-12-2023)
Notes
Governed by the Snellville Unified Development Ordinance 207-2.3. Planning and Development, 2342 Oak Road: 770-985-3513 or 770-985-3514

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 Gwinnett County

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

All Gwinnett County fence rules →

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