GeorgiaFence Rules

Effingham County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Effingham 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 Effingham County, fence height limits are: front yards, 48 in max for any wall or fence other than a retaining wall. On a lot with streets on two sides, the narrower street side is the front; side and rear yards, A fence 6 ft or under may go in any side or back yard, set at least 1 ft inside the property line.

Not required for a fence under 7 ft; a fence 7 ft or taller needs a building permit from Development Services. Give the inspector 24 hours' notice before starting work under a permit. The 7 ft threshold is the county's own published answer, backed by the state residential code the county adopts; Development Services · 912-754-2128 · Mon-Fri 8:30 to 5.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Effingham County: On any corner lot, nothing over 30 in tall, measured from the center of the road, may stand within 20 ft of the corner. A second rule bars anything between 30 in and 120 in above the road inside a sight triangle: 40 ft along each right-of-way line at a corner, 40 ft by 12.5 ft at a driveway.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Effingham 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 Effingham County: 1 ft from the property line for a fence or wall 6 ft or under, in any yard. The 5 ft setback for sheds and other accessory buildings does not apply to a fence. A privacy fence in a required planted buffer strip stays at least 2 ft inside the property line.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Effingham County: None for a home fence outside the Corridor Overlay. On unincorporated land within 500 ft of the Chamber of Commerce Gateway or Hodgeville Road, chain link, wood and PVC street walls at parking lots are banned, and so is any unscreened chain link or woven metal fence.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Effingham County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Not required for a fence under 7 ft; a fence 7 ft or taller needs a building permit from Development Services. Give the inspector 24 hours' notice before starting work under a permit. The 7 ft threshold is the county's own published answer, backed by the state residential code the county adopts. Development Services · 912-754-2128 · Mon-Fri 8:30 to 5 804 South Laurel Street, Springfield, GA 31329
Height - Front Yard
48 in max for any wall or fence other than a retaining wall. On a lot with streets on two sides, the narrower street side is the front.
Height - Side/Rear
A fence 6 ft or under may go in any side or back yard, set at least 1 ft inside the property line. Ask Development Services before building above 6 ft.
Height Notes
Two rules stack: a fence 6 ft or under may go in any yard 1 ft inside the line, and nothing over 10 ft may go in any yard except in planned manufactured home communities, industrial districts, and general and neighborhood commercial districts. The code never says in one sentence that a 7 ft backyard fence is barred, so ask Development Services before building above 6 ft. In a required landscape buffer a privacy fence may reach 7 ft with material approval. The code sets no rule for how fence height is measured.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
On any corner lot, nothing over 30 in tall, measured from the center of the road, may stand within 20 ft of the corner. A second rule bars anything between 30 in and 120 in above the road inside a sight triangle: 40 ft along each right-of-way line at a corner, 40 ft by 12.5 ft at a driveway. Trimmed trees, hydrants, poles, mailboxes and signs are exempt, and the director of building and zoning may reduce or waive the triangle rule. Effingham County Zoning Ordinance Secs. 3.40, 3.28
Materials Prohibited
None for a home fence outside the Corridor Overlay. On unincorporated land within 500 ft of the Chamber of Commerce Gateway or Hodgeville Road, chain link, wood and PVC street walls at parking lots are banned, and so is any unscreened chain link or woven metal fence. The county has no barbed wire, razor wire or electric fence rule.
Historic Districts
None. The county has no historic preservation ordinance, commission or certificate of appropriateness process.
Setbacks
1 ft from the property line for a fence or wall 6 ft or under, in any yard. The 5 ft setback for sheds and other accessory buildings does not apply to a fence. A privacy fence in a required planted buffer strip stays at least 2 ft inside the property line.
Design Requirements
None for a fence around a house. A fence standing in for a residential subdivision's required street buffer must be at least 50 percent solid and no taller than 6 ft, or up to 20 ft where that buffer runs along a main or collector road. The county's remaining fence design rules attach to junkyards, family cemeteries, home businesses and the Hodgeville Road overlay. Effingham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3.4.2
Gates
None beyond the pool gate, which must self-latch, lock and open away from the pool.
Floodplain Rules
In a mapped flood hazard area a county development permit comes before any development, which the code defines as any man-made change to the land including buildings or other structures; the flood chapter never names fences. In the floodway nothing may go in unless an engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels or widen the floodway. Effingham County Code Ch. 34
Color Restrictions
None. The county sets no fence color rule.
Source
Effingham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 6.2.2
Notes
Governed by the county's own zoning ordinance (Appendix C of the county code, adopted 1999; the yard rule was re-enacted in May 2024), which applies to the unincorporated area only. A city address follows that city's own code. The state pool code applies on top of the county pool rule. Development Services · 912-754-2128 · 804 South Laurel Street, Springfield, GA 31329

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 Effingham County

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

All Effingham County fence rules →

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