GeorgiaFence Rules

Putnam County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Putnam 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 Putnam County, fence height limits are: Residential districts: 4 ft max in the required front yard. Other districts: 8 ft max. Ask whether a farm (AG) lot counts as residential. Corner and driveway sight rules also apply (see corner lots); Required side and back yards: 8 ft max. On a corner lot in a residential district: 4 ft max.

Unconfirmed for most fences: the county requires a building permit for any building or structure, but its building permit rules name only masonry fences and walls, and pool fencing. Ask Planning and Development before you build; A masonry fence or wall has its own building permit fee, unless it is built under the permit for a new building or addition.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Putnam County: Corner lot in a residential district: fences, walls and hedges 4 ft max; At every street corner, wherever a driveway meets a street or another driveway, and where a street or railroad meets a railroad: nothing between 4 ft and 10 ft high within 20 ft of the meeting point.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Putnam County: County rule: every pool must be fenced to the state building code and needs a building permit that covers the fencing; 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 Putnam County: None from a property line. A fence may sit anywhere in a yard or along its edge; No fence in a public right-of-way, or in the future right-of-way of a main or collector road shown on the county's comprehensive plan.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Putnam County: None. The county code bans no material for a home fence.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Putnam County

Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for most fences: the county requires a building permit for any building or structure, but its building permit rules name only masonry fences and walls, and pool fencing. Ask Planning and Development before you build. A masonry fence or wall has its own building permit fee, unless it is built under the permit for a new building or addition. Pool fencing is covered by the pool's building permit. Planning and Development · 706-485-2776 117 Putnam Drive, Suite B, Eatonton, GA 31024
Height - Front Yard
Residential districts: 4 ft max in the required front yard. Other districts: 8 ft max. Ask whether a farm (AG) lot counts as residential. Corner and driveway sight rules also apply (see corner lots).
Height - Side/Rear
Required side and back yards: 8 ft max. On a corner lot in a residential district: 4 ft max. If the back of your lot runs along a street, the code puts a front setback there too; ask whether the 4 ft residential front-yard limit applies.
Height Notes
The limits are written for fences in the required yards. The code does not define that term or say how fence height is measured; ask Planning and Development whether they reach the area between the setback line and the house. Front setbacks vary by district (in the AG farm district: 30 ft, or 50 ft along a state highway or main road).
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Corner lot in a residential district: fences, walls and hedges 4 ft max. At every street corner, wherever a driveway meets a street or another driveway, and where a street or railroad meets a railroad: nothing between 4 ft and 10 ft high within 20 ft of the meeting point. Anywhere on the lot: no fence, wall or shrubbery that blocks drivers' view or creates a traffic hazard. Corner lots, and lots with a street at the back, keep the front setback on every street. Putnam County Code Sec. 66-34
Materials Prohibited
None. The county code bans no material for a home fence.
Historic Districts
The county code creates no historic district for the unincorporated county. Eatonton's historic district has its own rules (see the Eatonton page).
Setbacks
None from a property line. A fence may sit anywhere in a yard or along its edge. No fence in a public right-of-way, or in the future right-of-way of a main or collector road shown on the county's comprehensive plan.
Gates
None for a home fence. Pool gates follow the state pool code.
Floodplain Rules
In a mapped flood hazard area, any development, meaning any man-made change to land including structures, needs a county development permit first. Mapped 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 with no mapped floodway, where no other flood data are available: no structure, fill or anything else built or placed 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 more than 1 ft. The flood rules never mention fences. Ask Planning and Development whether a fence counts. Putnam County Code Secs. 34-2, 34-30, 34-31
Color Restrictions
None.
Source
Putnam County Code Sec. 66-132(r)
Notes
Governed by the county Zoning Ordinance of 2020, which covers only unincorporated land. The county sets no shoreline fence rule for Lake Oconee or Lake Sinclair lots. Planning and Development · 706-485-2776 · 117 Putnam Drive, Suite B, Eatonton, GA 31024

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 Putnam County

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

All Putnam County fence rules →

Ready to build your fence in Unincorporated Putnam County?

FenceWorks of Georgia is Atlanta's premier fence company: residential and commercial installation, repair, and removal. Free quotes, no obligation.

Get My Free QuoteCall 770-452-9900

4.9★ on Google · Google Guaranteed · Financing available