GeorgiaFence Rules

Gwinnett County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Gwinnett 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 Gwinnett County, fence height limits are: front yards, 4 ft max, covering the whole front yard from the street right-of-way back to the front of the house; Side and back yards: 8 ft max; Perimeter walls and fences along a bordering street: 6 ft max; Sports court fences: 12 ft max in a required side or back setback.

Not required for most fences up to 8 ft; Brick, block or concrete walls used as a fence: permit required over 4 ft (columns built into the wall may reach 6 ft without one); For a front yard fence or brick columns the county asks you to call Planning and Development first: 678-518-6000; Building Permits: 678-518-6020.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Gwinnett County: Both street sides count as front yards, so 4 ft is the limit on both; Within 20 ft of where two street right-of-way lines meet, nothing may block the view between 3 ft and 15 ft, so a fence is limited to 3 ft (Sec. 360-50.8); If the back of your lot runs along a second street with no driveway: 6 ft.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Gwinnett County: 48 in minimum barrier around any pool, hot tub or spa over 24 in deep, measured on the outside; Gates and doors: self-closing and self-latching; Above ground pool as the barrier: the ladder or steps must lock, come off or be secured; Latch under 54 in above the gate bottom: release on the pool side.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Gwinnett County: None from the property line: a fence may be built to the line; A fence may not be built in the public right-of-way (Sec. 230-30); Within 20 ft of where two street right-of-way lines meet, a fence is limited to 3 ft (Sec. 360-50.8).

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Gwinnett County: Banned: exposed concrete block, tires, scrap or sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallets, junk or other discarded items; No chain link, hog wire or barbed wire in a front yard, unless the lot is 3 acres or more and farmed, or industrially zoned.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Gwinnett County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Not required for most fences up to 8 ft. Brick, block or concrete walls used as a fence: permit required over 4 ft (columns built into the wall may reach 6 ft without one). For a front yard fence or brick columns the county asks you to call Planning and Development first: 678-518-6000. Building Permits: 678-518-6020
Height - Front Yard
4 ft max, covering the whole front yard from the street right-of-way back to the front of the house.
Height - Side/Rear
Side and back yards: 8 ft max. Perimeter walls and fences along a bordering street: 6 ft max. Sports court fences: 12 ft max in a required side or back setback.
Height Notes
The county rewrote its fence rules on 10-28-2025, so older Gwinnett figures no longer apply. The code allows these exceptions to the height limits and no others: a fence around an approved stormwater pond 6 ft, a sports court fence 12 ft in a required side or back setback, a fence or wall around an industrial use 6 ft in the front yard, 6 ft in the front yard of a lot with a second street at the back and no driveway onto it, subdivision entrance features 10 ft, and perimeter walls and fences along a bordering street 6 ft. Temporary chain link up to 8 ft is allowed around non single-family property for 30 days before and after demolition, renovation or construction. The code doesn't say how fence height is measured.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Both street sides count as front yards, so 4 ft is the limit on both. Within 20 ft of where two street right-of-way lines meet, nothing may block the view between 3 ft and 15 ft, so a fence is limited to 3 ft (Sec. 360-50.8). If the back of your lot runs along a second street with no driveway: 6 ft.
Materials Allowed
Front yard, lots under 3 acres: brick, stone, wood, wrought iron or split rail only. Chain link or wire in a front yard: only on lots of 3 acres or more used for farming, or on industrially zoned land.
Materials Prohibited
Banned: exposed concrete block, tires, scrap or sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallets, junk or other discarded items. No chain link, hog wire or barbed wire in a front yard, unless the lot is 3 acres or more and farmed, or industrially zoned. Electric and barbed wire: only on lots of 3 acres or more that qualify for keeping livestock, or on industrially zoned land.
Historic Districts
None. The county has no local historic district, preservation commission or fence review requirement.
Setbacks
None from the property line: a fence may be built to the line. A fence may not be built in the public right-of-way (Sec. 230-30). Within 20 ft of where two street right-of-way lines meet, a fence is limited to 3 ft (Sec. 360-50.8).
Design Requirements
Posts set in concrete. For a privacy fence, posts face your own property (the county regulates post placement, not which side is finished). Fences must be kept sound: no loose or rotting material, no nails sticking out more than 1/16 in, wood protected from decay, damaged parts replaced with matching material, and no props or braces instead of a real repair.
Gates
No height or design rule for ordinary gates. Pool barrier gates must be self-closing and self-latching, and all gates and latches must be kept in working order.
Source
Gwinnett County UDO Sec. 230-80 (amended 10-28-2025)
Notes
Governed by the Gwinnett County Unified Development Ordinance Sec. 230-80. Planning and Development, 446 West Crogan Street, Suite 300, Lawrenceville: 678-518-6000 main, 678-518-6020 Building 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 Gwinnett County

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

All Gwinnett County fence rules →

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