GeorgiaFence Rules

Cobb County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Cobb 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 Cobb County, fence height limits are: front yards, 6 ft max; Applies to any fence along a public road right-of-way, or in front of or beside the house, in a residential district; Side yards: 6 ft max (the 6 ft rule reaches a fence beside the house); Back yards: 8 ft max; Retaining walls are not covered by these limits.

Not required for a typical residential fence. The county's residential permit exemption list names fences; A development permit is required first for a fence in a mapped flood hazard area; A certificate of appropriateness is required first in a designated historic district; Community Development · 770-528-1000 · comdev@cobbcounty.gov.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Cobb County: Nothing between 3 ft and 15 ft tall within 20 ft of where two street rights-of-way meet (or where a street meets a railroad); Utility poles, streetlights, street signs and tree trunks are exempt.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Cobb County: The county adopts the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as its own pool code, so barrier, gate and latch rules come from that code; A Cobb County permit is required before a pool or spa is built; Cobb County Code Sec. 18-301 and Sec. 18-301.1.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Cobb County: Never in a public road right-of-way; No setback from your property line is required, and no post-depth or footing rule exists.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Cobb County: None. The county code bans no fence material for residential property: no ban on barbed wire, razor wire or electric fencing anywhere in the code; Fences must be kept structurally sound.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Cobb County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Not required for a typical residential fence. The county's residential permit exemption list names fences. A development permit is required first for a fence in a mapped flood hazard area. A certificate of appropriateness is required first in a designated historic district. Community Development · 770-528-1000 · comdev@cobbcounty.gov
Height - Front Yard
6 ft max. Applies to any fence along a public road right-of-way, or in front of or beside the house, in a residential district.
Height - Side/Rear
Side yards: 6 ft max (the 6 ft rule reaches a fence beside the house). Back yards: 8 ft max. Retaining walls are not covered by these limits.
Height Notes
Height includes posts and ornaments on top, must be met on both sides of the fence, and is measured from the existing ground. No more than 6 in of fill may be piled against the fence, and that fill counts toward the height.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Nothing between 3 ft and 15 ft tall within 20 ft of where two street rights-of-way meet (or where a street meets a railroad). Utility poles, streetlights, street signs and tree trunks are exempt.
Materials Allowed
No restriction. The county code lists no approved materials for residential fences.
Materials Prohibited
None. The county code bans no fence material for residential property: no ban on barbed wire, razor wire or electric fencing anywhere in the code. Fences must be kept structurally sound.
Historic Districts
A certificate of appropriateness from the county Historic Preservation Commission is required before a fence goes up in a designated historic district or on a property designated as historic. Putting up a fence counts as a material change in appearance. Cobb County Code Sec. 66-1 and Sec. 66-81
Setbacks
Never in a public road right-of-way. No setback from your property line is required, and no post-depth or footing rule exists.
Design Requirements
Fences must be kept structurally sound. No finished-side rule: the code does not require the finished face to point toward a neighbor or the street.
Gates
Not addressed in the county code.
Floodplain Rules
No fence in the regulatory floodway, the stream channel and the strip beside it that must stay clear to carry a flood. A development permit is required first for a fence in a mapped special flood hazard area, because a fence counts as development. Cobb County Code Sec. 58-52 and Sec. 58-66
Source
Cobb County Code Sec. 134-267
Notes
Governed by County Code Sec. 134-267 (there is no section titled Fences in the Cobb code). East Cobb, West Cobb and South Cobb all follow these county rules. Community Development: 770-528-1000

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 Cobb County

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

All Cobb County fence rules →

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