GeorgiaFence Rules

Chatham County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Chatham 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 Chatham County, fence height limits are: Front yards: 6 ft max on a residential lot; Pin Point Historic District: 3 ft in front of the house. Maridon and New Ogeechee historic properties: 36 in; Side yards: 6 ft max. Back yards: 8 ft max; Pin Point Historic District: 6 ft on the side and back lot lines.

Required for every fence and wall, at any height; Submit in person: the checklist affidavit that comes with the form, two copies of a site plan with the fence marked, two sets of construction drawings, Environmental Health approval if the lot has a septic tank, and a homeowner affidavit if you build it yourself. Not accepted by fax or email.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Chatham County: Keep the sight triangle clear between 3 ft and 10 ft above the road. It runs 40 ft back from the corner along each right-of-way line; the County Engineer can enlarge or shrink it; Applies in every zoning district.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Chatham County: Pool fence: at least 4 ft tall, or a screen enclosure. Gates self-closing and self-latching; Openings: the county code allows a 6 in gap, but Georgia's mandatory state pool code, which the county adopts, caps openings at 4 in. Build to 4 in.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Chatham County: None. A fence may be built to the property line; Nothing may sit in the public right-of-way, a fence may not run parallel to an existing building closer than 5 ft, and fencing over a drainage easement needs the county Director's written approval first.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Chatham County: Barbed wire, razor wire, glass shards or any other sharp material, sheet metal, and salvage or similar materials; Barbed or razor wire is allowed only on a business or industrial fence 6 ft or taller and for farm use; sheet metal only on an industrial lot away from homes and out of the front yard.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Chatham County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required for every fence and wall, at any height. Submit in person: the checklist affidavit that comes with the form, two copies of a site plan with the fence marked, two sets of construction drawings, Environmental Health approval if the lot has a septic tank, and a homeowner affidavit if you build it yourself. Not accepted by fax or email. The only exemption is a fence for a farm, forestry or fishery use. Building Safety & Regulatory Services · 912-201-4300 (Mon-Fri 8:00 to 3:30) 1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite D, Savannah, GA 31406
Height - Front Yard
Front yards: 6 ft max on a residential lot. Pin Point Historic District: 3 ft in front of the house. Maridon and New Ogeechee historic properties: 36 in.
Height - Side/Rear
Side yards: 6 ft max. Back yards: 8 ft max. Pin Point Historic District: 6 ft on the side and back lot lines. A fence securing a pool or tennis court in the back yard may reach 10 ft if it sits 1 ft farther from the property line for every foot over 6 ft.
Height Notes
The ordinance does not say how an ordinary fence's height is measured. Its buffer rules measure from the finished grade at the base to the top, not counting posts, but those rules apply only where a buffer is required, which happens when a property changes use or goes through site plan approval. Business districts: 8 ft max. Industrial districts: 10 ft max. Next to homes, either one drops to 8 ft along side and back lot lines and 6 ft in front.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Keep the sight triangle clear between 3 ft and 10 ft above the road. It runs 40 ft back from the corner along each right-of-way line; the County Engineer can enlarge or shrink it. Applies in every zoning district.
Materials Allowed
Chain link or other fence wire, decorative wrought iron, masonry, wood, or other materials usual in a residential area. The fence must fit visually with the neighborhood.
Materials Prohibited
Barbed wire, razor wire, glass shards or any other sharp material, sheet metal, and salvage or similar materials. Barbed or razor wire is allowed only on a business or industrial fence 6 ft or taller and for farm use; sheet metal only on an industrial lot away from homes and out of the front yard.
Historic Districts
Required in the county's seven designated historic districts and properties: Pin Point, Pennyworth Island, New Ogeechee Missionary Baptist Church, Maridon (Eureka Club), Isle of Hope Union Missionary Baptist Church, the Jacob Fox Gould House and Southfield Cemetery. A certificate of appropriateness from the Chatham County Historic Preservation Commission comes before you put up a new fence, or change an existing one, where it can be seen from a public street; no building permit issues without it. Pin Point: wood, cement board or engineered wood, iron, brick or extruded aluminum only; no vinyl or PVC; chain link only in side and back yards. Maridon and New Ogeechee: a fence facing a street must be built of the same material as the house or church, or of iron; extruded aluminum is also allowed at Maridon. Metropolitan Planning Commission · 912-651-1440 Chatham County Code Sec. 3-505
Setbacks
None. A fence may be built to the property line. Nothing may sit in the public right-of-way, a fence may not run parallel to an existing building closer than 5 ft, and fencing over a drainage easement needs the county Director's written approval first. Business or industrial fences next to homes: 5 ft from the line.
Design Requirements
Must fit visually with the neighborhood. No finished-side or opacity rule for a home fence. A fence may not create a fire hazard, block light, air or emergency exits from doors and windows, or keep a neighboring gate, door or window from opening. Keep it maintained: replace missing parts, repaint or repair stucco, control weeds. Temporary construction fences: allowed under 18 months with Zoning Administrator approval.
Gates
Pool enclosure gates must self-close and self-latch, and under Georgia's state pool code they must also open away from the pool. A fence may not block a neighboring gate from opening.
Floodplain Rules
The flood ordinance (rewritten August 22, 2025) does not name fences, but a fence is a structure, so building one in the mapped flood zone takes a development permit. In the regulatory floodway nothing may be built unless a Georgia-registered engineer certifies no rise in flood levels. The county's soil-erosion rules exempt fences, so stream buffers do not apply. Chatham County Code Sec. 24-114, 24-116
Color Restrictions
None for a home fence. Business and industrial fences: wood other than cypress or cedar must be painted or stained; concrete block painted or stuccoed.
Source
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-1; Sec. 3-7
Notes
Governed by the Zoning Ordinance of Chatham County, Sec. 5-1 Walls and Fences, which covers only the unincorporated county. An address inside a city is not covered by it; check with that city. Published by the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission. Building Safety & Regulatory Services · 912-201-4300 · 1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite D, Savannah, GA 31406 (Mon-Fri 8:00 to 3:30) Metropolitan Planning Commission · 912-651-1440 · 110 East State St., Savannah, GA 31401

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 Chatham County

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

All Chatham County fence rules →

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