GeorgiaFence Rules

Stephens County

Fence Rules in Unincorporated Stephens 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 Stephens County, fence height limits are: front yards, No county fence height limit, except near the corner where two streets meet (see corner lots); side and rear yards, No county fence height limit, except near the corner where two streets meet (see corner lots).

Unconfirmed for fences: the county's building permit rules and forms list no fence permit, and its land use code says fences are not structures, but no county text says a fence is exempt. Ask the Building Department before you build; Stephens County Building Department · 706-898-5750 · scpermits@stephenscountyga.gov; 802 E. Doyle Street, Toccoa, GA 30577.

On corner lots in Unincorporated Stephens County: Keep the triangle at a street corner clear of any fence that blocks the view between 2 ft and 12 ft above the road. The triangle runs 25 ft back from the corner along each right-of-way line (on a rounded corner, from where those lines would meet). Barbed wire and hog wire fences are exempt.

Pool fences in Unincorporated Stephens County: 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; Openings: 4 in max, or 1 3/4 in for chain link, lattice and any fence whose rails sit under 45 in apart, which puts its rails on the pool side.

Fence setbacks in Unincorporated Stephens County: None from a property line for a home fence; Farm animals on single-family residential (RS) land: a fenced enclosure at least 20 ft from any setback, and none in the front-yard setback; Public road right-of-way: the roads ordinance lists placing fences or walls among activities expressly prohibited there.

Prohibited fence materials in Unincorporated Stephens County: None for a home fence.

Fence Regulations

Unincorporated Stephens County

Permit Requirements
Unconfirmed for fences: the county's building permit rules and forms list no fence permit, and its land use code says fences are not structures, but no county text says a fence is exempt. Ask the Building Department before you build. Stephens County Building Department · 706-898-5750 · scpermits@stephenscountyga.gov 802 E. Doyle Street, Toccoa, GA 30577
Height - Front Yard
No county fence height limit, except near the corner where two streets meet (see corner lots).
Height - Side/Rear
No county fence height limit, except near the corner where two streets meet (see corner lots).
Height Notes
The county's land use code says fences are not structures or buildings, so its building height and building setback rules do not reach a fence. Stephens County Code Secs. 59-201, 59-1618
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Keep the triangle at a street corner clear of any fence that blocks the view between 2 ft and 12 ft above the road. The triangle runs 25 ft back from the corner along each right-of-way line (on a rounded corner, from where those lines would meet). Barbed wire and hog wire fences are exempt. The same article also says fences are excluded from its rules, so ask the County Planner how the two fit. Stephens County Code Sec. 59-1613
Materials Prohibited
None for a home fence.
Historic Districts
No local historic district. The county code creates none.
Setbacks
None from a property line for a home fence. Farm animals on single-family residential (RS) land: a fenced enclosure at least 20 ft from any setback, and none in the front-yard setback. Public road right-of-way: the roads ordinance lists placing fences or walls among activities expressly prohibited there; the public works and planning directors decide case by case. Ask the County Planner, 706-898-6600. Stephens County Code Secs. 59-201, 59-801, 65-6
Design Requirements
None for a home fence.
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, meaning any man-made change to land. The flood rules never name fences, so ask the Building Department whether yours needs one. Mapped floodway (the stream channel and the land beside it that must stay open to carry floodwater): nothing may go in unless a registered professional engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels. Along a small stream in a mapped flood hazard area with no flood data or no mapped floodway: nothing may be built, placed or filled within five times the stream's width at the top of the bank, or 20 ft on each side from the top of the bank, whichever is greater, unless a registered professional engineer certifies it will not raise flood levels. Stephens County Code Secs. 38-35, 38-63, 38-91, 38-94
Color Restrictions
None. The county sets no fence color rule.
Source
Stephens County Code Sec. 59-1618
Notes
Governed by the county's land use code (Chapter 59), which covers the unincorporated county only and says fences are not structures. Inside a city, ask that city. Building Department · 706-898-5750 County Planner · 706-898-6600 802 E. Doyle Street, Toccoa, GA 30577

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 Stephens County

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

All Stephens County fence rules →

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