GeorgiaFence Rules

Madison County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Madison County, Georgia

Last verified: October 23, 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 Madison County, fence height limits are: front yards, No county fence height limit, except near a street intersection or driveway (see corner lots); side and rear yards, No county fence height limit, except near a street intersection or driveway (see corner lots).

Unconfirmed for fences: the zoning code excludes fences from its definition of a structure, and no county permit rule, form or fee names fences. Ask Building Inspections before you build. If a permit is needed, zoning approval comes first from Planning and Zoning; Building Inspections & Code Enforcement · 706-795-6350; Planning and Zoning · 706-795-6340.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Madison County: Within 20 ft of where two streets' right-of-way lines meet, or a street meets a railroad, no fence may block the view between 2.5 ft and 10 ft above the ground. A second section says up to 15 ft above the street, so ask Planning and Zoning which applies; The 10 ft section also covers curb cuts and driveways.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Madison County: County rule in farm and home districts: a wall or fence at least 4 ft tall, the pool 10 ft from every lot line, and Health Department approval; 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.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Madison County: None for a home fence. The zoning code excludes fences from its definition of a structure, so building setbacks do not reach a fence; Near a street intersection or driveway: see the view rule under corner lots.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Madison County: None for a home fence. Electric fencing is barred only for chicken, sheep and goat pens kept under the county's urban agriculture rules.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Madison County

Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the zoning code excludes fences from its definition of a structure, and no county permit rule, form or fee names fences. Ask Building Inspections before you build. If a permit is needed, zoning approval comes first from Planning and Zoning. Building Inspections & Code Enforcement · 706-795-6350 Planning and Zoning · 706-795-6340 91 Albany Ave, Danielsville, GA 30633
Height - Front Yard
No county fence height limit, except near a street intersection or driveway (see corner lots).
Height - Side/Rear
No county fence height limit, except near a street intersection or driveway (see corner lots).
Height Notes
The zoning code sets no maximum fence height. Apart from the view rule near street intersections and driveways (see corner lots), every fence height it states is a minimum: for pool fences, and for fences it requires around certain uses, such as business storage areas and a townhouse yard with a shed or other outbuilding in it.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Within 20 ft of where two streets' right-of-way lines meet, or a street meets a railroad, no fence may block the view between 2.5 ft and 10 ft above the ground. A second section says up to 15 ft above the street, so ask Planning and Zoning which applies. The 10 ft section also covers curb cuts and driveways. Madison County Zoning Ordinance Secs. 6.4.2, 8.4.3
Materials Prohibited
None for a home fence. Electric fencing is barred only for chicken, sheep and goat pens kept under the county's urban agriculture rules.
Historic Districts
None. The county code creates no local historic district.
Setbacks
None for a home fence. The zoning code excludes fences from its definition of a structure, so building setbacks do not reach a fence. Near a street intersection or driveway: see the view rule under corner lots. Subdivision lots: keep any drainage easement shown on your plat clear of anything that blocks water flow. Madison County Subdivision Regulations Sec. 4.9.2
Design Requirements
None for an ordinary home fence. Townhouse yard with a shed or other outbuilding in it: the yard must be enclosed by a solid fence 8 ft high. Business and industrial land: outdoor operations must be enclosed by a solid wall or fence at least 8 ft tall. Madison County Zoning Ordinance Secs. 6.2.3.7, 9.2.1.2
Gates
None for a home fence. Pool gates follow the state pool code.
Floodplain Rules
Fences are a permitted use in the zoning code's Flood Prone district. In a FEMA flood hazard area, a county development permit comes before any development, meaning any man-made change to land. The flood rules never name fences, so ask Planning and Zoning whether yours needs one. Floodway (the stream channel and the land beside it that must stay open to carry floodwater): nothing may go in unless a registered professional engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels or widen the floodway. Along a stream in a mapped flood hazard area where no floodway is mapped and no other flood data are available: no structure, fill or other encroachment within the stream's width or 20 ft of the top of the bank, whichever is greater, unless a registered professional engineer certifies it will raise flood levels no more than 1 ft. Madison County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 7.13; County Code Secs. 30-43, 30-72, 30-73
Color Restrictions
None. The county sets no fence color rule.
Source
Madison County Zoning Ordinance (codified 2024)
Notes
Governed by the county's zoning ordinance, which covers the unincorporated county only; the county zoning office has no jurisdiction inside city limits. Inside Colbert, Comer, Ila or Danielsville, ask City Hall first: the county issues a building permit there only with a letter from the city. Building Inspections · 706-795-6350 · Planning and Zoning · 706-795-6340 91 Albany Ave, Danielsville, GA 30633

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.

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