GeorgiaFence Rules

Henry County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Henry County, Georgia

Last verified: October 17, 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 Henry County, fence height limits are: front yards, Not allowed in a platted subdivision; Outside a subdivision: 4 ft max, columns, gates and gateposts to 6 ft; Nonresidential: 5 ft; Most side and back yards: 6 ft max; If that side runs along a street: 4 ft max, or 6 ft set back at least 5 ft from the property line; Nonresidential: 8 ft.

Not required for a fence 6 ft or under; required for a fence over 6 ft and for any wall; The land development code exempts fences up to 7 ft, but the stricter county building code governs (Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-5-703; ULDC Sec. 1.3.5.B); Home front yard fences, where they are allowed at all, must be reviewed by the Architectural Review Committee.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Henry County: No fence, shrubs or other object may block a driver's view through the sight line triangles on a corner lot, in any zoning district (view measured at 3.5 ft eye and object height); The required sight distance depends on the posted speed limit: from 280 ft at 25 mph up to 610 ft at 55 mph and above.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Henry County: Barrier required under the latest adopted International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and it must be in place before the pool is finished; Home pools: back yards only, one per lot. A hot tub or spa does not count toward the one-pool limit.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Henry County: A fence or wall may sit on or inside your property line, but the whole fence and its supports must stay inside the lot: no encroaching into the right-of-way; Must not obstruct or impede pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Henry County: Exposed concrete block, tires, scrap metal, sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, junk and other discarded items; Barbed wire and razor wire, except as allowed on R-A (residential-agricultural) farms and in I-1 and I-2 industrial side and back yards.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Henry County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Not required for a fence 6 ft or under; required for a fence over 6 ft and for any wall. The land development code exempts fences up to 7 ft, but the stricter county building code governs (Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-5-703; ULDC Sec. 1.3.5.B). Home front yard fences, where they are allowed at all, must be reviewed by the Architectural Review Committee. Required for a temporary fence, such as one used in construction work: a special building permit for a limited time.
Height - Front Yard
Not allowed in a platted subdivision. Outside a subdivision: 4 ft max, columns, gates and gateposts to 6 ft. Nonresidential: 5 ft
Height - Side/Rear
Most side and back yards: 6 ft max. If that side runs along a street: 4 ft max, or 6 ft set back at least 5 ft from the property line. Nonresidential: 8 ft
Height Notes
The code does not say how fence height is measured. Exceptions at homes: a fence or wall around an approved stormwater pond may be 6 ft, and a fence around a tennis court or similar sports court may be 12 ft. Industrial districts (I-1, I-2): side and back yard fences up to 12 ft may be allowed with county approval, if the owner shows the extra height is needed for security.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
No fence, shrubs or other object may block a driver's view through the sight line triangles on a corner lot, in any zoning district (view measured at 3.5 ft eye and object height). The required sight distance depends on the posted speed limit: from 280 ft at 25 mph up to 610 ft at 55 mph and above. Street signs, streetlights, mailboxes and similar objects are allowed in the triangle.
Materials Allowed
R-A (residential-agricultural) lots: decorative wood, masonry, wrought iron or similar metal, plus woven wire or metal fabric such as chain link or hog wire. All other residential districts: decorative wood, masonry, wrought iron or similar metal. Inside a subdivision: side and back yards only, chain link allowed. Outside a subdivision: hog wire or welded wire may be allowed in a side or back yard. Nonresidential fences in a front yard or a side yard along a street: wrought iron style with brick, masonry or stone columns. Nonresidential side and back yards: decorative wood, stone, masonry, wrought iron or similar metal, or coated chain link.
Materials Prohibited
Exposed concrete block, tires, scrap metal, sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, junk and other discarded items. Barbed wire and razor wire, except as allowed on R-A (residential-agricultural) farms and in I-1 and I-2 industrial side and back yards. R-A farms: barbed wire, but not razor wire, may be allowed for farm use. I-1 and I-2 side and back yards: barbed wire must be strands on an otherwise allowed fence or wall, at least 6 ft above the ground.
Historic Districts
None. The county code has no historic district review for fences (ULDC Sec. 10.1.6, Historic Preservation Commission, is reserved).
Setbacks
A fence or wall may sit on or inside your property line, but the whole fence and its supports must stay inside the lot: no encroaching into the right-of-way. Must not obstruct or impede pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
Design Requirements
Home front yard fences are banned in a platted subdivision (one laid out on a recorded plat map). Where allowed, they need Architectural Review Committee review. In residential subdivisions outside R-A, fencing goes in side and back yards only. Three overlay districts set their own fence rules, and those rules control where they conflict with the rest of the code: Central District, Airport Area and North Ola-Kelleytown (ULDC Secs. 5.3.1.B, 5.4.1.B and 5.5.1.B). The overlay maps are part of the official zoning map, so check them before you build. Central District and Airport Area overlays: a home fence may go in the front yard, but it must be decorative metal or wood and at least 50 percent see-through. Commercial uses in the Central District overlay and all nonresidential uses in the Airport Area overlay: no fence in a front yard or a side yard facing a street, except a 36 inch fence separating outdoor dining from the sidewalk; 6 ft max in a back yard or a side yard away from a street; no barbed wire, razor wire or similar security fencing (ULDC Secs. 5.3.8 and 5.5.6). North Ola-Kelleytown overlay: a 4 ft fence in an approved design is required in the rural protection buffer (the natural strip new development must keep) along any street (ULDC Sec. 5.4.7). A lot zoned R-A through R-5 that existed before March 17, 2026 and is meant for one single-family home is exempt from the overlay rules (ULDC Sec. 5.4.1.C).
Gates
Residential front yard and street side yard fences: columns, gates and gateposts up to 6 ft. Nonresidential front yard and street side yard fences: columns and gateposts up to 6 ft. Pool gate hardware follows the adopted International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
Source
2026 Henry County ULDC Sec. 7.2.5
Notes
Governed by the 2026 Henry County ULDC Sec. 7.2.5, adopted March 2026 and amended September 1, 2026. Henry County Planning and Zoning, 140 Henry Pkwy, McDonough: 770-288-7526, pz_submittals@henrycountyga.gov

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 Henry County

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

All Henry County fence rules →

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