GeorgiaFence Rules

Pickens County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Pickens County, Georgia

Last verified: October 22, 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 Pickens County, fence height limits are: front yards, No county fence height limit. Where public roads or driveways meet, nothing over 3 ft may stand in the 25 ft corner triangle (see corner lots); side and rear yards, No county fence height limit, except the same 3 ft rule where public roads or driveways meet.

Unconfirmed for fences: the county code requires a Planning & Development permit to build any building or structure, and the zoning code defines a structure broadly enough to cover a fence, but no county permit application or fee schedule lists fences, so ask before you build.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Pickens County: Where two public roads meet, and wherever a vehicle access drive, such as a driveway, meets a public road or another such drive, nothing over 3 ft above the level of the street may stand inside the triangle formed by points 25 ft from the intersection; Pickens County Code Sec. 67-227.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Pickens County: County rule: leave a 3 ft wide walk space between the pool wall and the pool fence or barrier wall; 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 Pickens County: Not settled. The zoning code keeps any accessory structure, such as a shed, out of the front setback (25 ft from the street right-of-way in most districts) and 15 ft from side and back lot lines, but never says if a fence counts. Ask Planning & Development before building one that close.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Pickens County: None for a home fence. The county bans no fence material outside required buffers and specific uses such as junkyards and solar farms.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Pickens County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the county code requires a Planning & Development permit to build any building or structure, and the zoning code defines a structure broadly enough to cover a fence, but no county permit application or fee schedule lists fences, so ask before you build. On a protected mountain, a mountain protection permit and site plan are also required for any structure, with no fence exemption. A protected mountain is any land 2,200 ft or more above sea level on a mountain whose slopes above that height are 25 percent or steeper over at least 500 ft, including its ridge tops and gentler ground above that height, but not valley floors. Fence work that causes only minor soil erosion is exempt from the county erosion rules. Pickens County Code Secs. 16-33, 26-93, 26-98, 38-722 Planning & Development · 706-253-8850 · plandev@pickenscountyga.gov 1266 East Church Street, Suite 136, Jasper, GA 30143
Height - Front Yard
No county fence height limit. Where public roads or driveways meet, nothing over 3 ft may stand in the 25 ft corner triangle (see corner lots).
Height - Side/Rear
No county fence height limit, except the same 3 ft rule where public roads or driveways meet.
Height Notes
Apart from the 3 ft limit where public roads and driveways meet, the only zoning height limit that reaches a fence is the cap on any building or structure: 35 to 50 ft in most zoning districts. Pickens County Code Secs. 67-222, 67-321
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Where two public roads meet, and wherever a vehicle access drive, such as a driveway, meets a public road or another such drive, nothing over 3 ft above the level of the street may stand inside the triangle formed by points 25 ft from the intersection. Pickens County Code Sec. 67-227
Materials Prohibited
None for a home fence. The county bans no fence material outside required buffers and specific uses such as junkyards and solar farms.
Historic Districts
None. The county code creates no local historic district and requires no certificate of appropriateness (historic design approval) for a fence.
Setbacks
Not settled. The zoning code keeps any accessory structure, such as a shed, out of the front setback (25 ft from the street right-of-way in most districts) and 15 ft from side and back lot lines, but never says if a fence counts. Ask Planning & Development before building one that close. Pickens County Code Sec. 67-401
Design Requirements
None for a home fence. Buffers: where a business or industrial district borders homes, farms or institutions, the business or industrial lot must provide a planted buffer when it gets a building permit. A highway business or industrial lot's buffer is at least 30 ft wide and adds a fence, wall or berm to the plantings, and any fence in it must be kept in good repair. Livestock: land used to keep livestock must be enclosed by a permanent fence built for the animals kept and maintained so they stay off neighboring property. Pickens County Code Secs. 67-344, 67-350, 67-406
Gates
None for a home fence. Pool gates follow the state pool code.
Floodplain Rules
In a mapped flood hazard area a county development permit comes before any development, which the code defines as any man-made change to the land, including buildings or other structures. Floodway (the part of a flood area that must stay clear to carry floodwater): nothing may go in unless an engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels or widen the floodway. Flood area with a mapped flood height but no floodway: no fill or new structure unless an engineer certifies that, with other development, it will not raise the flood more than 1 ft. Flood area along a stream with no flood height data: no fill or structure within 20 ft of the top of the bank, or the stream's width if greater, unless an engineer certifies it will not raise the flood more than 1 ft. The flood rules never name fences, so ask whether yours counts. Pickens County Code Secs. 38-507, 38-532 to 38-534
Color Restrictions
None. The county sets no fence color rule.
Source
Pickens County Code Ch. 67
Notes
Governed by the county zoning code (Chapter 67, Land Use Regulation and Standards, replaced in full in August 2025). It sets no fence height limit but keeps sight lines clear above 3 ft where public roads and driveways meet; see corner lots. The online code library still shows the older chapter; the county posts the current text. A city address follows that city's own code. Pool barriers follow Georgia's state pool code. Planning & Development · 706-253-8850 · 1266 East Church Street, Suite 136, Jasper, GA 30143

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 Pickens County

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

All Pickens County fence rules →

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