GeorgiaFence Rules

Stephens County

Fence Rules in Toccoa, 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 Toccoa, fence height limits are: front yards, No city fence height limit, except near a street corner (see corner lots). In the SR Suburban Residential district, ask about a front-yard fence first (see setbacks); side and rear yards, No city fence height limit.

Unconfirmed for fences: the zoning code requires a building permit before any structure is built, but no permit form or fee names fences, and a city handout still quotes a 2006 building code that exempted fences up to 6 ft. Ask the Planning Department before you build. Permits are issued Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 3 pm; Planning Department · 706-886-8451.

On corner lots in Toccoa: On a corner lot (every zoning district except the B-II commercial district), nothing more than 3 ft above the level of the middle of the street may stand within the triangle formed by the two street lines and a line joining points on them 25 ft from the corner; A fence that blocks sight lines is a nuisance under city code.

Pool fences in Toccoa: 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 Toccoa: None in most districts; SR Suburban Residential district: fences are listed as an accessory use (an add-on, like a garage or pool), and no accessory structure may stand in the front yard or within 10 ft of a side or rear lot line. Ask the Planning Department whether that applies to your fence; Toccoa Code Sec. 24-76.5.

Prohibited fence materials in Toccoa: None in the city code. In the historic district, the commission's design guidelines discourage chain link, concrete block and modern wood privacy fencing where seen from the street.

Fence Regulations

Toccoa

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the zoning code requires a building permit before any structure is built, but no permit form or fee names fences, and a city handout still quotes a 2006 building code that exempted fences up to 6 ft. Ask the Planning Department before you build. Permits are issued Monday to Thursday, 8 am to 3 pm. Planning Department · 706-886-8451 92 N. Alexander St., Toccoa, GA 30577
Height - Front Yard
No city fence height limit, except near a street corner (see corner lots). In the SR Suburban Residential district, ask about a front-yard fence first (see setbacks).
Height - Side/Rear
No city fence height limit.
Height Notes
Two height rules apply to fences, and the code sets no other fence height limit for any yard. Corner lot (any district except the B-II commercial district): nothing over 3 ft near the corner (see corner lots). SR Suburban Residential district: 20 ft max. The code lists fences there as an accessory use (an add-on to the house, like a garage or pool), and accessory uses have a 20 ft height limit. Toccoa Code Sec. 24-76.5
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
On a corner lot (every zoning district except the B-II commercial district), nothing more than 3 ft above the level of the middle of the street may stand within the triangle formed by the two street lines and a line joining points on them 25 ft from the corner. A fence that blocks sight lines is a nuisance under city code. Toccoa Code Secs. 24-144, 13-2
Materials Prohibited
None in the city code. In the historic district, the commission's design guidelines discourage chain link, concrete block and modern wood privacy fencing where seen from the street.
Historic Districts
Where: the City of Toccoa Historic District (downtown and surrounding streets), shown on the city's historic district map. Rule: building, changing or removing a fence there needs a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before work starts, and no building permit issues without one. Exterior paint, and ordinary repair that keeps the same design, materials and look, are exempt. Apply at City Hall at least 15 days before the commission's monthly meeting. Main Street Manager · 706-898-5777 Toccoa Code Secs. 5-212, 5-215, 5-216, 5-235
Setbacks
None in most districts. SR Suburban Residential district: fences are listed as an accessory use (an add-on, like a garage or pool), and no accessory structure may stand in the front yard or within 10 ft of a side or rear lot line. Ask the Planning Department whether that applies to your fence. Toccoa Code Sec. 24-76.5
Design Requirements
Fences must be kept structurally sound and in good repair. Historic district only, under the commission's 2017 design guidelines: privacy fences are not appropriate in front yards; vinyl or metal chain-link fencing is not appropriate where seen from the street, and concrete block and modern wood privacy fencing are discouraged there; keep a historic fence, and replace one beyond repair in kind, matching its design, material and color; new fences should match the height of traditional fences in the district. Toccoa Code Sec. 13-59
Gates
None for a home fence. Pool gates follow the state pool code.
Floodplain Rules
The flood rules never name fences, so ask the Planning Department whether yours counts as an encroachment. Floodway (the stream channel and the land beside it that must stay open to carry floodwater): no encroachment, fill, new construction or other development unless a registered professional engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels or widen the floodway. Along a stream in a mapped flood hazard area where no floodway is mapped and no other flood data are available: no structure, fill or other encroachment within the stream's width or 20 ft of the top of the bank, whichever is greater, unless a registered professional engineer certifies it will raise flood levels no more than 1 ft. Toccoa Code Secs. 9-52, 9-53
Color Restrictions
None in the city code. Repainting is exempt from historic review. In the historic district, a replacement for a historic fence should match its original color (see design).
Source
Toccoa Code Sec. 24-144
Notes
Governed by the city's own code. Fences are a permitted use in every residential, business and industrial zoning district. Planning Department · 706-886-8451 · inspections 706-282-3267 92 N. Alexander St., Toccoa, GA 30577

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 Stephens County

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

All Stephens County fence rules →

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