GeorgiaFence Rules

Bulloch County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Bulloch County, 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 Unincorporated Bulloch County, the maximum fence height is typically 6 ft in side and rear yards and 4 ft in front yards.

Not required for a fence under 6 ft, but a taller fence is not on the county's exemption list, so ask Development Services before you build. A swimming pool or pool enclosure always needs a permit. Fences are exempt from the county's soil erosion permit; Development Services · 912-489-1356 · Mon-Fri 8 to 5; 115 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Bulloch County: Both street-facing yards count as front yards, and front-yard standards apply to both. The 4 ft cap is written for the yard facing the street your house faces; the code does not say whether it covers the side street too, so ask the county. No rule lowers fence height at the corner for driver visibility.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Bulloch County: 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 Unincorporated Bulloch County: None. A fence may go to the property line: fences are not counted as yard encroachments and are exempt from the accessory-structure setbacks; Bulloch County Zoning Ordinance Secs. 606(5), 1403.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Bulloch County: None banned outright. Any material other than chain link, decorative wood, decorative vinyl or ornamental wrought iron needs approval from the building and zoning official. The county has no barbed wire or razor wire rule.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Bulloch County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Not required for a fence under 6 ft, but a taller fence is not on the county's exemption list, so ask Development Services before you build. A swimming pool or pool enclosure always needs a permit. Fences are exempt from the county's soil erosion permit. Development Services · 912-489-1356 · Mon-Fri 8 to 5 115 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458
Height - Front Yard
4 ft max in the yard facing the street your house faces. A corner lot may have a second street frontage; the code does not say whether the same 4 ft covers it.
Height - Side/Rear
6 ft max above the ground along side and back property lines in a residential zone. The code sets no height for a fence built well inside the lot.
Height Notes
Height is measured from the ground. The 6 ft cap is written for the residential districts (R-80 through R-3) and only for the required setback, the strip along each lot line the county makes you leave open. The code sets no height for a fence elsewhere on the lot, and does not say whether the cap reaches a 5-acre farm zone (AG-5). A fence under 6 ft needs no building permit.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Both street-facing yards count as front yards, and front-yard standards apply to both. The 4 ft cap is written for the yard facing the street your house faces; the code does not say whether it covers the side street too, so ask the county. No rule lowers fence height at the corner for driver visibility.
Materials Allowed
Chain link, decorative wood, decorative vinyl, ornamental wrought iron. Any other material needs the building and zoning official's approval. Chain link facing a street must be dark vinyl-coated, and the buffer and screening section limits chain link to side and back yards. That section exempts farm and timber land and subdivisions of five homes or fewer; ask Development Services at 912-489-1356 whether it reaches your lot.
Materials Prohibited
None banned outright. Any material other than chain link, decorative wood, decorative vinyl or ornamental wrought iron needs approval from the building and zoning official. The county has no barbed wire or razor wire rule.
Historic Districts
None. The county has no historic district, preservation commission or certificate of appropriateness process.
Setbacks
None. A fence may go to the property line: fences are not counted as yard encroachments and are exempt from the accessory-structure setbacks. Bulloch County Zoning Ordinance Secs. 606(5), 1403
Design Requirements
Chain link facing a street: dark vinyl-coated. This sits in the buffer and screening section, so ask Development Services whether it reaches a single home lot. Bulloch County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 405(i)
Gates
None. The county code sets no gate rule for a home fence. Pool gates follow the state pool code.
Floodplain Rules
In a mapped flood hazard area a county development permit comes before any man-made change to the land. In the floodway, no new construction unless an engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels. No fence may be placed in a drainage system without a development permit. Bulloch County Code Secs. 7-15, 7-38(1), 6.5-83(13)
Color Restrictions
None. One exception sits in the buffer and screening section: chain link facing a street must be dark vinyl-coated.
Source
Bulloch County Zoning Ordinance Secs. 202, 404
Notes
Governed by the Bulloch County Zoning Ordinance (readopted April 4, 2023), which applies to the unincorporated county only. A city address follows that city's own code. Pool barriers follow the state pool code, which the county enforces. Development Services · 912-489-1356 · County main line · 912-764-6245 115 North Main Street, Statesboro, GA 30458

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 Bulloch County

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

All Bulloch County fence rules →

Ready to build your fence in Unincorporated Bulloch County?

FenceWorks of Georgia is Atlanta's premier fence company: residential and commercial installation, repair, and removal. Free quotes, no obligation.

Get My Free QuoteCall 770-452-9900

4.9★ on Google · Google Guaranteed · Financing available