GeorgiaFence Rules

Newton County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Newton 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 Newton County, fence height limits are: front yards, R1 and R2 lots: 4 ft max; A, RE and AR lots: 6 ft max; Overlay lots: 4 ft max; side and rear yards, R1 and R2 lots: 8 ft max, or 4 ft along the street on a corner lot; A, RE and AR lots: 8 ft max; Overlay lots: 6 ft max.

Ask the county before you build. The zoning ordinance says nothing about permitting a fence, and the county publishes neither a fence permit form nor a fence permit fee. The building code at Code Sec. 10-4 still covers any structure, and the ordinance counts a fence as a structure; Planning and Zoning, 1124 Clark Street, Covington, 678-625-1650.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Newton County: R1 and R2 lots: a fence in the side yard along the street is capped at 4 ft, wood or vinyl, no chain link. The cap runs to the rear building line, and behind it if the fence is inside the side yard setback; Buildings on a corner lot set back half the district front setback, never under 15 ft.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Newton County: Pools follow the adopted building codes: Georgia's 48 in minimum barrier applies through those codes. The county sets nothing stricter.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Newton County: None from a property line; No fence or wall may be built in a public right-of-way or a future street right-of-way.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Newton County: Chain link: banned in R1 and R2 front yards and in a corner lot's street-side yard; Anti-climbing devices: banned on R1 and R2 side and back yard fences; No fence or wall may stand in a public right-of-way or a future street right-of-way; Overlay lots: no solid fence in a front yard.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Newton County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Ask the county before you build. The zoning ordinance says nothing about permitting a fence, and the county publishes neither a fence permit form nor a fence permit fee. The building code at Code Sec. 10-4 still covers any structure, and the ordinance counts a fence as a structure. Planning and Zoning, 1124 Clark Street, Covington, 678-625-1650
Height - Front Yard
R1 and R2 lots: 4 ft max. A, RE and AR lots: 6 ft max. Overlay lots: 4 ft max.
Height - Side/Rear
R1 and R2 lots: 8 ft max, or 4 ft along the street on a corner lot. A, RE and AR lots: 8 ft max. Overlay lots: 6 ft max.
Height Notes
Nothing may go over 8 ft anywhere in the county, except subdivision entrance walls, noise abatement walls and tennis court fences. Your zoning district sets the lower limits. R1 and R2 are the two single-family subdivision districts. A is Agricultural, RE is Rural Estates, AR is Agricultural Residential. Overlay lots are those in the MU-278, Almon/Crowell Road, Salem Road and Brick Store overlay districts. The ordinance does not say how fence height is measured.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
R1 and R2 lots: a fence in the side yard along the street is capped at 4 ft, wood or vinyl, no chain link. The cap runs to the rear building line, and behind it if the fence is inside the side yard setback. Buildings on a corner lot set back half the district front setback, never under 15 ft.
Materials Allowed
R1 and R2 front yards: wood, vinyl. Chain link is not allowed. R1 and R2 side and back yards: chain link, wood, vinyl. MU-278 and Almon/Crowell overlays: front yard fences must be see-through. Chain link must be black or green clad and is allowed in back yards only. Salem Road and Brick Store overlays: front yard fences must be see-through. Chain link must be black or green clad and may not run along a public street.
Materials Prohibited
Chain link: banned in R1 and R2 front yards and in a corner lot's street-side yard. Anti-climbing devices: banned on R1 and R2 side and back yard fences. No fence or wall may stand in a public right-of-way or a future street right-of-way. Overlay lots: no solid fence in a front yard.
Historic Districts
The county's historic preservation chapter applies to walls and fences on designated historic properties and within designated historic districts.
Setbacks
None from a property line. No fence or wall may be built in a public right-of-way or a future street right-of-way.
Design Requirements
R1 and R2: front yard fences must be wood or vinyl. Side and back yard fences may not include anti-climbing devices. Overlay lots: front yard fences must be see-through. Solid fences are allowed only in side and back yards.
Source
Newton County UDO Sec. 1615-010 and Zoning Ordinance Sec. 220-050(A)(2)
Notes
Fence limits come from two places: the county Development Regulations set an 8 ft ceiling with a short list of exceptions, and your zoning district sets the lower limits. This page covers unincorporated Newton County. Covington, Oxford and Porterdale run their own codes inside their city limits. The county's building permit office also serves Mansfield and Newborn. Not sure which zoning district your parcel is in: Planning and Zoning, 678-625-1650

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 Newton County

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

All Newton County fence rules →

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