GeorgiaFence Rules

Rockdale County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Rockdale 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 Rockdale County, fence height limits are: Residential districts: 4 ft max along any street; Commercial, office and mixed-use: 6 ft max; Industrial: 6 ft max, or as Sec. 218-13 specifies; Most side and back yards: 6 ft max; Industrial side and back yards: 8 ft max; If your side or back line runs along a street, the street limit applies.

Required only for a fence over 7 ft.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Rockdale County: Adequate sight distance is required per county DOT standards, with increased setbacks from the right-of-way.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Rockdale County: 4 ft minimum security fence around a swimming pool at a home, with a self-closing gate and positive latch so the pool stays enclosed at all times; Fence and gate must be up before the pool is filled with water; Health department approval is required before the building permit is issued; UDO Sec. 218-13.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Rockdale County: None from a side or back property line that does not run along a street. A fence may be built right on the line; Along any street: at least 3 ft back from the public right-of-way, for all fences, landscape walls and hedges.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Rockdale County: No tires, scrap or sheet metal, plastic, fiberglass, MDF, plywood, exposed common concrete block, or junk and discarded materials; No plastic slats; No solid (opaque) fences along any street.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Rockdale County

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required only for a fence over 7 ft.
Height - Front Yard
Residential districts: 4 ft max along any street. Commercial, office and mixed-use: 6 ft max. Industrial: 6 ft max, or as Sec. 218-13 specifies.
Height - Side/Rear
Most side and back yards: 6 ft max. Industrial side and back yards: 8 ft max. If your side or back line runs along a street, the street limit applies.
Height Notes
Height is measured from the normal finished ground level to the highest point of the fence, wall or hedge. 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. The planning and development director can administratively approve up to 150 percent of the normal limit. A-R or W-P lots of at least 3 acres in an allowed farm use: 6 ft max along a street. Residential districts are A-R, W-P, CRS, CSD, CSO, R-1, R-2, MUR, RM, M-H, R-1A, R-1B and R-3. Commercial, office and mixed-use are CID, O-1, OBP, C-1, C-2, NC and MxD. Industrial is M-1 and M-2.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Adequate sight distance is required per county DOT standards, with increased setbacks from the right-of-way.
Materials Allowed
Along a street: treated solid wood (painted, varnished, pressure-treated or composite), ornamental metal (wrought iron, steel, aluminum), vinyl boards, and masonry (brick, architectural concrete block, stone). Along side and back property lines that do not run along a street: the same list plus chain link, as long as the chain link does not run past the front of the house (the front building line). Industrial (M-1, M-2) may also use chain link along a street. A-R and W-P lots of at least 3 acres in an allowed farm use may also use woven wire, chain link, metal fabric, barbed wire, hog wire and chicken wire.
Materials Prohibited
No tires, scrap or sheet metal, plastic, fiberglass, MDF, plywood, exposed common concrete block, or junk and discarded materials. No plastic slats. No solid (opaque) fences along any street.
Historic Districts
N/A
Setbacks
None from a side or back property line that does not run along a street. A fence may be built right on the line. Along any street: at least 3 ft back from the public right-of-way, for all fences, landscape walls and hedges.
Design Requirements
A solid fence or wall running more than 20 ft needs a visual break: a column, a jog, or planting. Finished side faces the neighbors. No solid fences along a street.
Gates
Columns and gates may rise up to 18 in above the fence height limit, spaced at least 10 ft apart.
Source
Rockdale County UDO Sec. 214-6
Notes
Governed by Rockdale County UDO Sec. 214-6. Planning and Development: (770) 278-7100, 1117 West Avenue SW, Conyers. 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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