GeorgiaFence Rules

Rockdale County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Rockdale County, Georgia

Last verified: October 17, 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 Rockdale County, the maximum fence height is typically 6 ft in side and rear yards and 4 ft in front yards.

Required for a wall over 4 ft, and a fence around a pool needs its drawing approved before it is built. The zoning code sets no other permit rule for fences, so ask Planning and Development before you build; Planning and Development · (770) 278-7100; 981 Milstead Ave, First Floor, Conyers, GA 30012.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Rockdale County: Fences must meet the county Department of Transportation's sight-clearance rules and keep a clear sight zone at the intersection; The front of a corner lot is the side on the more major road under the county's road classification; if both roads rank the same, it is the side with less street frontage.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Rockdale County: County rule: every outdoor home pool, in-ground or above-ground, must be fully enclosed by its own barrier (a fence, wall or building) at least 5 ft tall, measured from the outside ground; The barrier must be hard to climb or pass through. Submit a detailed drawing for approval before you install it.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Rockdale County: Along a street: at least 3 ft back from the right-of-way; Side and back property lines that do not run along a street: none. A fence may be built right on the line; No fence inside a public right-of-way or a planned future street right-of-way.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Rockdale County: Tires, scrap or sheet metal, plastic, fiberglass, MDF, plywood, exposed common concrete block, junk and discarded materials; Plastic slats; Solid fences along any street; Chain link or other wire fences along a street in residential and mixed-use districts: AR, R-1, MR, PV, CRS, CC and MXD.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Rockdale County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required for a wall over 4 ft, and a fence around a pool needs its drawing approved before it is built. The zoning code sets no other permit rule for fences, so ask Planning and Development before you build. Planning and Development · (770) 278-7100 981 Milstead Ave, First Floor, Conyers, GA 30012
Height - Front Yard
4 ft max, in every zoning district.
Height - Side/Rear
6 ft max. Industrial districts (M-1, M-2): 8 ft max.
Height Notes
Height is measured from the highest finished ground next to the fence, at any point along it, up to the top of the fence. A fence on top of a retaining wall is measured from the ground to the top of the fence, wall included. Columns and gates may rise up to 18 in above the limit, spaced at least 10 ft apart. On a sloped lot the limits may be exceeded to keep an even fence line. A wall beside a public road and inside the zoning setback: 4 ft max, and it must not block drivers' sight lines. The code does not say whether a brick, block or stone fence counts as a wall.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Fences must meet the county Department of Transportation's sight-clearance rules and keep a clear sight zone at the intersection. The front of a corner lot is the side on the more major road under the county's road classification; if both roads rank the same, it is the side with less street frontage.
Materials Allowed
Ornamental metal (wrought iron, steel, aluminum), treated solid wood (painted, varnished, pressure-treated or composite), vinyl boards, and masonry (brick, architectural concrete block, stone). Chain link: not on the permitted list, and banned along a street in residential and mixed-use districts. The code does not say whether it is allowed on other property lines; ask Planning and Development. New or renovated industrial buildings: a fence visible from and within 300 ft of a public street or a neighboring home must be aluminum, steel, iron, precast concrete, stone or brick.
Materials Prohibited
Tires, scrap or sheet metal, plastic, fiberglass, MDF, plywood, exposed common concrete block, junk and discarded materials. Plastic slats. Solid fences along any street. Chain link or other wire fences along a street in residential and mixed-use districts: AR, R-1, MR, PV, CRS, CC and MXD.
Historic Districts
No historic-district fence rule in the county code.
Setbacks
Along a street: at least 3 ft back from the right-of-way. Side and back property lines that do not run along a street: none. A fence may be built right on the line. No fence inside a public right-of-way or a planned future street right-of-way.
Design Requirements
A solid fence or wall running more than 20 ft needs a visual break: planting, a column, a jog in the line or another approved feature. Finished side faces the neighbors. No solid fences along a street. New or renovated industrial buildings: a fence or wall run over 100 ft must be broken up with landscaping, columns, jogs or changes in material, color or texture, and must use materials and colors in keeping with the building's architecture.
Gates
Columns and gates may rise up to 18 in above the fence height limit, spaced at least 10 ft apart. A gate that blocks fire department access to a home, business or recreation area, electric or not, must meet the fire marshal's requirements before it is installed and needs a rapid entry system. County Code Sec. 46-24.
Source
Rockdale County UDO (2026) Sec. 11.8
Notes
Governed by the Rockdale County Unified Development Ordinance adopted in 2026, in force since October 1, 2026: fences in Sec. 11.8, height measurement in Sec. 4.15, pools in Sec. 9.8.9. Planning and Development: (770) 278-7100, 981 Milstead Ave, First Floor, Conyers, GA 30012. Code Enforcement: 770-278-7103

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 Rockdale County

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

All Rockdale County fence rules →

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