GeorgiaFence Rules

Butts County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Butts County, 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 Unincorporated Butts County, fence height limits are: front yards, No height limit in the county code. Its accessory-use rule may keep fences out of front yards; ask Planning & Development. Corner sight rules also apply (see corner lots); side and rear yards, No height limit in the county code, except near a street corner (see corner lots).

Unconfirmed for fences: the county's permit web page says any structure needs a building permit but lists fences not over 6 ft as an exception, and no county ordinance sets that exception. Ask Planning & Development before you build; Planning & Development · 770-775-8210; 625 West Third Street, Suite 3, Jackson, GA 30233.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Butts County: Within 20 ft of where street rights-of-way meet (or a street and a railroad): no fence of any kind, wall or shrub from 3 ft to 15 ft above ground; Corner lot: no fence may block drivers' view of each lane for 280 ft (25 mph) to 610 ft (55 mph), at eye and object height 3 1/2 ft.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Butts County: County rule: a home pool 3 ft deep or more must be fully fenced to the state code, and the permit needs a notarized barrier affidavit; 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.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Butts County: Unclear for fences; ask Planning & Development. Fences may stand inside required setbacks, but the code also lists them as home accessory uses, which must sit in a side or back yard at least 8 ft from every property line in A-R, R-1, R-2 and R-3 and 5 ft in R-4, R-5 and R-M.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Butts County: Planned residential (P-R) districts: no front-yard fence of any material but wood; Otherwise no county ban on barbed, razor or electric wire for a home fence; In the I-75 overlay, industrial sites may not use razor or barbed wire where it can be seen from the road, or chain link in the front yard.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Butts County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the county's permit web page says any structure needs a building permit but lists fences not over 6 ft as an exception, and no county ordinance sets that exception. Ask Planning & Development before you build. Planning & Development · 770-775-8210 625 West Third Street, Suite 3, Jackson, GA 30233
Height - Front Yard
No height limit in the county code. Its accessory-use rule may keep fences out of front yards; ask Planning & Development. Corner sight rules also apply (see corner lots).
Height - Side/Rear
No height limit in the county code, except near a street corner (see corner lots). See setbacks for a possible distance from property lines.
Height Notes
A fence around a private tennis or basketball court may be up to 10 ft tall. Lots on Jackson Lake or High Falls Lake: the waterfront side counts as the front, and the area between the road and the house follows the back setback.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Within 20 ft of where street rights-of-way meet (or a street and a railroad): no fence of any kind, wall or shrub from 3 ft to 15 ft above ground. Corner lot: no fence may block drivers' view of each lane for 280 ft (25 mph) to 610 ft (55 mph), at eye and object height 3 1/2 ft. Corner lots, and lots with a street at the back, have a front setback on every street side. Butts County UDO Secs. 4.01.02, 6.01.09
Materials Allowed
Planned residential (P-R) districts: front-yard fences must be wood. Butts County UDO Sec. 4.07.08(j)
Materials Prohibited
Planned residential (P-R) districts: no front-yard fence of any material but wood. Otherwise no county ban on barbed, razor or electric wire for a home fence. In the I-75 overlay, industrial sites may not use razor or barbed wire where it can be seen from the road, or chain link in the front yard. Butts County UDO Sections 4.07.08(j) and 4.02.15(h)
Historic Districts
The county code creates no local historic district and requires no historic review for fences.
Setbacks
Unclear for fences; ask Planning & Development. Fences may stand inside required setbacks, but the code also lists them as home accessory uses, which must sit in a side or back yard at least 8 ft from every property line in A-R, R-1, R-2 and R-3 and 5 ft in R-4, R-5 and R-M. Required buffer: the code puts it between the property line and any fence, yet allows fences inside it; ask before fencing on the line. Butts County UDO Sections 4.01.02(e), 4.09.05(b)(1) and 5.02.01
Design Requirements
I-75 overlay, rural neighborhood area: the guidelines encourage low walls, fences or hedges along the street, with fences of wood no taller than 30 in. Heating, cooling and other mechanical equipment must be screened from the street on three sides by an opaque wall or fence of brick, stucco, split-face block or wood, or by a screen of all-evergreen plants at least two plants deep. Butts County UDO Sec. 4.02.20(e) and Appendix A Sec. 5A.02
Floodplain Rules
In a mapped flood hazard area, development needs a county development permit first. The code counts building any structure, and any land disturbance, as development, so ask Planning & Development before fencing there. In a mapped flood hazard area along a stream with no flood elevations, or with flood elevations but no mapped floodway, where no other flood data are available: no encroachment, including structures or fill, within the stream's width or 20 ft of the top of the bank, whichever is greater. In a mapped flood hazard area with flood elevations but no mapped floodway: no encroachment, including fill or new structures, unless a registered professional engineer certifies that, with all other development, it will not raise the base flood anywhere. Stream buffer: no land disturbance and no buildings or accessory structures within 100 ft of the bank of any stream, which the code defines to include intermittent streams and any lake or pond that spans more than one parcel; exceptions include existing uses, farming and timber harvesting. Ask whether a fence counts. Fences are exempt from the county's soil erosion rules. Butts County UDO Secs. 1.10.00, 3.01.07, 3.01.17, 3.01.18, 3.05.03, 3.05.04, 3.08.03
Color Restrictions
None for most home fences. I-75 overlay, rural neighborhood area: the guidelines say street-front walls should be brick or stone of a color in harmony with the house, and wood fences should be finished to complement it. Butts County UDO Appendix A Sec. 5A.02
Source
Butts County UDO Sec. 5.02.01
Notes
Governed by the Butts County Unified Development Ordinance, which covers only unincorporated land. Flovilla and Jenkinsburg are separate towns. Planning & Development · 770-775-8210 · 625 West Third Street, Suite 3, Jackson, GA 30233

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 Butts County

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

All Butts County fence rules →

Ready to build your fence in Unincorporated Butts 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