GeorgiaFence Rules

Monroe County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Monroe 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 Monroe County, fence height limits are: front yards, No fence height limit in the county code, except near a street corner (see corner lots). Whether a fence may stand in the front yard at all is unconfirmed (see setbacks); side and rear yards, No fence height limit in the county code, except near a street corner (see corner lots).

Unconfirmed for fences: the county code requires a building permit to build any building or structure and calls fences accessory structures, but no rule names a fence permit. The county fee schedule lists a $50 zoning fee for a fence over 6 ft. Ask Planning & Zoning before you build; Planning & Zoning · 478-994-7040; Building Inspections · 478-994-7618.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Monroe County: Within 20 ft of where street rights-of-way meet (or a street and a railroad): no fence of any kind, wall or shrub from 3 ft to 15 ft above ground; On a corner lot, a fence also may not block drivers' sight lines at the intersection. How far they reach depends on road speed; ask Planning & Zoning.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Monroe County: County rule: a pool at least 3 ft deep must be completely enclosed by a fence built to the state code; 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 Monroe County: Unconfirmed: the code says fences do not encroach on setbacks, but it also lists fences among accessory uses, which must sit in the side or back yard, not the front yard, and at least 8 ft from any property line (A-R, R-1, R-2, R-3) or 5 ft (R-4, RMF). The code does not say which rule governs.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Monroe County: None. The county code bans no fence material.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Monroe County

Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the county code requires a building permit to build any building or structure and calls fences accessory structures, but no rule names a fence permit. The county fee schedule lists a $50 zoning fee for a fence over 6 ft. Ask Planning & Zoning before you build. Planning & Zoning · 478-994-7040 Building Inspections · 478-994-7618 Second Floor, 38 West Main Street, Forsyth, GA 31029
Height - Front Yard
No fence height limit in the county code, except near a street corner (see corner lots). Whether a fence may stand in the front yard at all is unconfirmed (see setbacks).
Height - Side/Rear
No fence height limit in the county code, except near a street corner (see corner lots).
Height Notes
A fence around a private tennis or basketball court may be up to 10 ft.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Within 20 ft of where street rights-of-way meet (or a street and a railroad): no fence of any kind, wall or shrub from 3 ft to 15 ft above ground. On a corner lot, a fence also may not block drivers' sight lines at the intersection. How far they reach depends on road speed; ask Planning & Zoning. Corner lots, and lots with a street at the back, have a front setback on every street side. Monroe County UDO Secs. 4.01.02, 6.01.09(A)
Materials Prohibited
None. The county code bans no fence material.
Historic Districts
The county has no local historic district and no historic review for fences.
Setbacks
Unconfirmed: the code says fences do not encroach on setbacks, but it also lists fences among accessory uses, which must sit in the side or back yard, not the front yard, and at least 8 ft from any property line (A-R, R-1, R-2, R-3) or 5 ft (R-4, RMF). The code does not say which rule governs; ask Planning & Zoning before you build in a front yard or near a property line. Required buffer (a natural or planted strip the county requires along some lot lines): the code puts it between the property line and any fence, yet allows fences inside it; ask before fencing on the line. No fence may stand in a public right-of-way, such as the public land along a road. Monroe County UDO Secs. 4.01.02(E) and (L), 4.06.05(B), 5.02.01
Design Requirements
None for a home fence.
Gates
Pool gates: self-closing and self-latching (see pool fences).
Floodplain Rules
In a flood hazard area (on FEMA's flood maps, or land known to have flooded), development needs a county development permit first. The code counts building any structure, and any land disturbance, as development. Floodway (the stream channel and nearby land that must stay open to carry floodwater): no new construction or other development unless a registered professional engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels or widen the floodway. In a mapped flood hazard area along a stream where no floodway is mapped and no other flood data are available: no encroachment, including structures or fill, within the stream's width or 20 ft of the top of the bank, whichever is greater. In a mapped flood hazard area with flood elevations but no mapped floodway: no encroachment, including fill or new structures, unless a registered professional engineer certifies that, with all other existing and expected development, it will not raise the base flood at all. The flood rules never name fences. Ask Planning & Zoning whether a fence counts. Riparian buffer (50 ft on each side of a perennial stream within 7 miles upstream of a public water intake or reservoir): no land disturbance, buildings or accessory structures. Ask whether a fence counts. Fences are exempt from the county's soil erosion rules. Monroe County UDO Secs. 1.10.00, 3.01.06, 3.01.07, 3.01.16, 3.01.17, 3.01.18, 3.05.03, 3.08.03
Color Restrictions
None.
Source
Monroe County UDO Sec. 4.01.02
Notes
Governed by the county's Unified Development Ordinance, adopted September 5, 2023, which covers only unincorporated land. Culloden is a separate city; ask the city. Planning & Zoning · 478-994-7040 · Building Inspections · 478-994-7618 Second Floor, 38 West Main Street, Forsyth, GA 31029

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 Monroe County

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

All Monroe County fence rules →

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