GeorgiaFence Rules

Morgan County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Morgan 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 Morgan County, fence height limits are: front yards, No county fence height limit, except near a street corner or driveway (see corner lots). In some subdivisions, no solid fence in the front yard (see prohibited materials); side and rear yards, No county fence height limit, except near a street corner or driveway (see corner lots).

Unconfirmed for fences: the county code requires a permit to build any building or structure, but the zoning code says a fence is not a structure, and the county has no fence permit type or fee. Ask Planning & Development before you build; A pool permit includes a required fence inspection before the pool is used; Planning & Development · 706-342-4373.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Morgan County: No fence, wall, plant or sign may be placed within 20 ft of these points, or kept so it blocks the view at them: where two street right-of-way lines meet, where a driveway meets a public street, where two driveways meet, and where a street or railroad crosses a railroad.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Morgan County: County rule: a wall or fence at least 4 ft tall with a self-closing gate, installed before the pool is filled; 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 Morgan County: None. The county's yard setbacks apply to buildings and structures, and its zoning code says a fence is not a structure; Lake Oconee lakeshore lots: ask Planning & Development whether the code's 40 ft setback from Georgia Power land applies to fences; Near street corners and driveways, see corner lots.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Morgan County: None on most lots; In subdivisions covered by the county's house form standards (a residential subdivision built under one plan, or where more than 5 parcels are created): no privacy or other solid fence in the front yard; Morgan County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5.17.1.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Morgan County

Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the county code requires a permit to build any building or structure, but the zoning code says a fence is not a structure, and the county has no fence permit type or fee. Ask Planning & Development before you build. A pool permit includes a required fence inspection before the pool is used. Planning & Development · 706-342-4373 150 E Washington Street, Suite 200, Madison, GA 30650
Height - Front Yard
No county fence height limit, except near a street corner or driveway (see corner lots). In some subdivisions, no solid fence in the front yard (see prohibited materials).
Height - Side/Rear
No county fence height limit, except near a street corner or driveway (see corner lots).
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
No fence, wall, plant or sign may be placed within 20 ft of these points, or kept so it blocks the view at them: where two street right-of-way lines meet, where a driveway meets a public street, where two driveways meet, and where a street or railroad crosses a railroad. The code sets no height below which a fence is allowed there. Morgan County Zoning Ordinance Ch. 5.11
Materials Prohibited
None on most lots. In subdivisions covered by the county's house form standards (a residential subdivision built under one plan, or where more than 5 parcels are created): no privacy or other solid fence in the front yard. Morgan County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5.17.1
Historic Districts
On a designated county landmark or in a designated county historic district, building, changing or removing a fence needs a certificate of appropriateness from the Resource Preservation Advisory Board first, and no building permit issues without it. Exterior paint and ordinary repair that keeps the same design, material and look are exempt. Whether any county district or landmark has been designated is unconfirmed; ask Planning & Development. Morgan County Zoning Ordinance Secs. 12.4.1, 12.5.1
Setbacks
None. The county's yard setbacks apply to buildings and structures, and its zoning code says a fence is not a structure. Lake Oconee lakeshore lots: ask Planning & Development whether the code's 40 ft setback from Georgia Power land applies to fences. Near street corners and driveways, see corner lots.
Design Requirements
None on most lots. In subdivisions covered by the house form standards: each lot's site plan covers landscaping, driveways and fencing and goes through county design review. In those subdivisions, air conditioning and generator units may not sit in the front yard and must be screened; solid fencing, a masonry wall or evergreen plants all qualify. Morgan County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5.17.1
Gates
Pool gates: open outward, self-closing and self-latching (see pool fences).
Floodplain Rules
In a mapped flood hazard area, a flood area permit is required before any development, meaning any man-made change to land, starts. Floodway (the stream channel and nearby land that must stay open to carry floodwater): no encroachment, including fill, new construction or other development. In a mapped flood hazard area, nothing may be built or placed that could slow or block the flow of floodwater. In a mapped flood hazard area along a stream with no flood data from any official source, or with flood data but no mapped floodway: no encroachment, including structures or fill, 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 not raise flood levels at all. These rules come from the county's 2005 flood article, and the county reorganized its development regulations on September 1, 2026. Ask Planning & Development whether they still apply. Fence building that causes only minor soil erosion is exempt from the county's soil erosion rules (Code of Ordinances Sec. 42-196). Morgan County Development Regulations Secs. 5.4, 5.6
Color Restrictions
None.
Source
Morgan County Zoning Ordinance
Notes
Governed by the county Zoning Ordinance, which covers only unincorporated land. County rules do not apply inside Bostwick, Buckhead, Madison or Rutledge; ask that city or town. Planning & Development · 706-342-4373 · 150 E Washington Street, Suite 200, Madison, GA 30650

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 Morgan County

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

All Morgan County fence rules →

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