GeorgiaFence Rules

DeKalb County

Fence Rules in Stone Mountain, Georgia

Last verified: August 31, 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 Stone Mountain, fence height limits are: front yards, 4 ft max; Every street side of a corner lot counts as a front yard; Interior side and rear yards: 8 ft max; Any side or back yard that runs along a street: 4 ft max, counted as a front yard; Exempt: retaining walls, tennis court fencing; Subdivision entrance monuments: 8 ft, columns 10 ft.

Required; Fence is a checkbox on the city's building permit application; Permitting is contracted to SAFEbuilt and Permit Service Group: 770-498-8984 (alternate 678-791-8170). Planning and Zoning: 470-895-5608; In the historic district, a certificate of appropriateness is also required before work begins.

On corner lots in Stone Mountain: Every street-facing side of a corner lot: 4 ft max, the same as a front yard; Sight triangles: nothing may block the view between 3 ft and 10 ft above the ground where a stop-controlled side street meets a through street, or where your own driveway meets a public street.

Pool fences in Stone Mountain: 48 in minimum barrier, matching Georgia's state minimum; A separate section requires a pool at a house to be enclosed by a solid (opaque) fence or wall between 4 and 8 ft.

Fence setbacks in Stone Mountain: No setback for fences unless the zoning ordinance says otherwise for your district; A planted strip at least 3 ft wide is still required between a fence and a street right-of-way; Never in the public right-of-way, except that a retaining wall may sit partly in a local street's right-of-way with a variance.

Prohibited fence materials in Stone Mountain: Chain link only in side and back yards. Exception: woven wire or metal fabric may extend into a front yard on a residential lot of at least 3 acres; No wire or plastic fencing along a street right-of-way, including barbed wire and chain link with plastic or wood inserts.

Fence Regulations

Stone Mountain

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required; Fence is a checkbox on the city's building permit application. Permitting is contracted to SAFEbuilt and Permit Service Group: 770-498-8984 (alternate 678-791-8170). Planning and Zoning: 470-895-5608. In the historic district, a certificate of appropriateness is also required before work begins.
Height - Front Yard
4 ft max. Every street side of a corner lot counts as a front yard.
Height - Side/Rear
Interior side and rear yards: 8 ft max. Any side or back yard that runs along a street: 4 ft max, counted as a front yard. Exempt: retaining walls, tennis court fencing. Subdivision entrance monuments: 8 ft, columns 10 ft.
Height Notes
The code doesn't say how fence height is measured. Temporary fencing is exempt from these standards but may not stay up longer than 6 months.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Every street-facing side of a corner lot: 4 ft max, the same as a front yard. Sight triangles: nothing may block the view between 3 ft and 10 ft above the ground where a stop-controlled side street meets a through street, or where your own driveway meets a public street. Side street, or a driveway you can turn left out of, meeting a through street: 30 ft on a two-lane street or 35 ft on a four-lane street for every 5 mph of the posted limit, measured toward traffic coming from the left. Where left turns onto the through street are allowed, a second, larger triangle also applies toward traffic coming from the right: 35 ft two-lane or 40 ft four-lane for every 5 mph. Driveway meeting a public street: 22 ft for every 5 mph of the posted limit, back to a point 15 ft beyond the right-of-way, or 15 ft beyond the curb where there is no public sidewalk. Zoning Sec. 6-4.
Materials Allowed
Brick, masonry, stone, stucco, metal, wrought iron, wood, composite, fiberglass, or other weather and decay-resistant materials. Wood must be cedar, redwood, pressure-treated pine or another decay-resistant wood. Front yards: ornamental or decorative only, in brick, masonry, stone, wood, stucco, wrought iron or split rail.
Materials Prohibited
Chain link only in side and back yards. Exception: woven wire or metal fabric may extend into a front yard on a residential lot of at least 3 acres. No wire or plastic fencing along a street right-of-way, including barbed wire and chain link with plastic or wood inserts. Concrete facing a street must carry a decorative treatment. No razor wire, filter fabric, plastic sheeting, plywood, exposed concrete block, tires, junk, or materials originally meant for another purpose.
Historic Districts
A certificate of appropriateness from the Stone Mountain Historic Preservation Commission is required to build, alter, restore or remove a fence in the historic district, which covers most of Stone Mountain Village. The commission meets the third Wednesday at 6:30 pm; applications are due 14 days beforehand.
Setbacks
No setback for fences unless the zoning ordinance says otherwise for your district. A planted strip at least 3 ft wide is still required between a fence and a street right-of-way. Never in the public right-of-way, except that a retaining wall may sit partly in a local street's right-of-way with a variance.
Design Requirements
Finished side faces the neighbor. A front-yard fence must be ornamental or decorative. In the historic district, design must follow the historic design guidelines, with a certificate of appropriateness.
Gates
Vehicle gates must sit at least 20 ft back from the street right-of-way.
Floodplain Rules
Flood hazard district: a fence is allowed only if it puts no material obstruction in the way of the free flow of water. The district sits on top of the ordinary zoning districts, so an ordinary residential lot can be in it. Zoning Sec. 5-10.2. Drainage system or the 100-year floodplain on the city's flood hazard map: a development permit is required before the fence goes up. Code Sec. 8-12.
Source
Stone Mountain Zoning Sec. 6-11
Notes
Governed by Zoning Sec. 6-11. Planning and Zoning: 470-895-5608

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 DeKalb County

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

All DeKalb County fence rules →

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