GeorgiaFence Rules

Clayton County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Clayton County, Georgia

Last verified: August 29, 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 Clayton County, fence height limits are: front yards, Under 4 ft on a home lot. Decorative walls 2 ft; Business and industrial lots: 6 ft; side and rear yards, Chain link, privacy, ornamental fences and solid walls 6 ft. Rail fence 5 ft, decorative wall 4 ft, industrial fence 8 ft; Business and industrial lots: 8 ft, industrial fence 10 ft.

Required for building, altering or moving any fence or wall, at any height; Not required for: repairs with no structural change, replacing a fence with the same type and height in the same spot, adding a gate up to 8 ft wide to an existing fence, wire or wood fences on working farms of at least 3 acres with 200 ft of road frontage, and hedges used as living…

On corner lots in Unincorporated Clayton County: On a residential corner lot, a chain link or privacy fence up to 6 ft is allowed in the front yard along the side street, as long as the homes next door and across that street do not face it. It may not extend past the front of your house toward the street the house faces.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Clayton County: No county rule of its own. Georgia's state pool code governs: 48 in minimum barrier; The county code only says a fence required for a pool may exceed the general height limits.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Clayton County: A fence may go right up to a property line that is not a right-of-way line, but on a side or back line it needs written consent from every adjoining owner or a certified survey; At least 2 ft from any right-of-way, or the clear zone if that is larger, measured from the property or right-of-way line.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Clayton County: Barbed wire, razor wire and electric fences, unless the Board of Zoning Appeals approves one for public safety; Wire fences, except on working farms of at least 3 acres with 200 ft of road frontage; Tara Boulevard and Cherry Hills overlays: no chain link visible from a public street (Sec. 4.17).

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Clayton County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required for building, altering or moving any fence or wall, at any height. Not required for: repairs with no structural change, replacing a fence with the same type and height in the same spot, adding a gate up to 8 ft wide to an existing fence, wire or wood fences on working farms of at least 3 acres with 200 ft of road frontage, and hedges used as living fences. Apply with the Community & Economic Development Department; bring a plot plan or lot survey. A fence on a property line needs written consent from every adjoining owner or a certified survey. Fee: $25 up to 1,000 linear feet, $75 over that. Permits and inspections: 770-477-3569
Height - Front Yard
Under 4 ft on a home lot. Decorative walls 2 ft. Business and industrial lots: 6 ft.
Height - Side/Rear
Chain link, privacy, ornamental fences and solid walls 6 ft. Rail fence 5 ft, decorative wall 4 ft, industrial fence 8 ft. Business and industrial lots: 8 ft, industrial fence 10 ft.
Height Notes
Height is measured from the highest grade to the highest point of the fence, including posts and finials. Fences on M1 and M2 (industrial) property are exempt from the height and material rules. Fences required elsewhere in the code for screening, pools or cell towers may exceed these limits.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
On a residential corner lot, a chain link or privacy fence up to 6 ft is allowed in the front yard along the side street, as long as the homes next door and across that street do not face it. It may not extend past the front of your house toward the street the house faces. Nothing may be placed in a required sight clear zone at intersections (set by AASHTO sight distance standards).
Materials Allowed
The code regulates by fence type, not a materials list: chain link, privacy, ornamental, rail and living fences (hedges), plus decorative and solid walls, each with its own height cap. M1 and M2 (industrial) property is exempt from the material rules.
Materials Prohibited
Barbed wire, razor wire and electric fences, unless the Board of Zoning Appeals approves one for public safety. Wire fences, except on working farms of at least 3 acres with 200 ft of road frontage. Tara Boulevard and Cherry Hills overlays: no chain link visible from a public street (Sec. 4.17). Electric fences are otherwise allowed only in the heavy and light industrial districts, under Sec. 6.49: a surrounding non-electric fence of at least 6 ft, the electric fence itself 10 ft or 2 ft above that surrounding fence, whichever is higher, warning signs no more than 45 ft apart, permit required.
Historic Districts
On a property designated historic by county ordinance, a fence or wall needs a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before the work starts (Code Ch. 74, Art. III). Not reviewed: a fence located entirely in the back yard with no frontage on a street.
Setbacks
A fence may go right up to a property line that is not a right-of-way line, but on a side or back line it needs written consent from every adjoining owner or a certified survey. At least 2 ft from any right-of-way, or the clear zone if that is larger, measured from the property or right-of-way line. The whole fence, posts, footings and anything overhanging, must stay inside your lot. Not allowed in any drainage, utility, sidewalk, landscaping or access easement without the easement holder's written permission, in any right-of-way, or in a required buffer that does not expressly allow fences.
Design Requirements
Finished side faces out, toward the neighbors. Masonry walls must be finished the same on all sides. A privacy fence or solid wall in the front yard of a business or industrial lot needs a 4 ft planted strip between the fence and the front property line.
Gates
Adding a gate up to 8 ft wide to an existing fence or wall, with no structural change, needs no permit.
Floodplain Rules
Standard floodplain regulations apply
Source
Clayton County Zoning Appendix A, Sec. 6.30
Notes
Governed by Zoning Appendix A, Sec. 6.30. Permits: Community & Economic Development Department, 121 South McDonough St., Jonesboro, Mon-Fri 8-5: 770-477-3569. Do not call Clayton County Housing and Community Development (770-210-5208): that office handles HUD grants, not permits.

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 Clayton County

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

All Clayton County fence rules →

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