GeorgiaFence Rules

Fulton County

Fence Rules in Union City, 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 Union City, fence height limits are: Residential districts: 4 ft max in or along a front yard; Town Center districts (TCMU, TCMF): 42 in max for a home fence next to the sidewalk, between the house and the street; Residential districts: 8 ft max outside the front yard; Town Center districts (TCMU, TCMF): 6 ft max between the house and the lot line.

Required: apply before building, on the city's Fence/Retaining Wall Permit Application, issued by Community Development; Fee: $50 residential, $100 commercial; Community Development: 770-515-7950; main city line: 770-964-2288. Inspections are contracted to SAFEbuilt: 770-474-9393.

On corner lots in Union City: Every street-facing side counts as a front, so the residential 4 ft limit applies; Two sight triangles apply: nothing 3 to 15 ft tall within 20 ft of where street, road, highway or railroad right-of-way lines meet, and nothing over 3 ft within 15 ft of where those lines extended meet for two streets or a street and a railroad.

Pool fences in Union City: No city pool barrier rule. The city adopts the state minimum codes, including the International Residential Code, so Georgia's 48 in minimum governs.

Fence setbacks in Union City: No setback from a property line: a fence may sit on the line, and fences are expressly not counted as yard encroachments; No wall or fence in a public right-of-way.

Prohibited fence materials in Union City: Commercial (NC, GC, RSC) and institutional (O&I) districts: no fence of wire, chain link or metal; Roosevelt Highway Corridor: no chain link, and no solid fences next to public streets; Chain link and barbed wire may not serve as screening; Residential districts carry no general materials ban.

Fence Regulations

Union City

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required: apply before building, on the city's Fence/Retaining Wall Permit Application, issued by Community Development. Fee: $50 residential, $100 commercial. Community Development: 770-515-7950; main city line: 770-964-2288. Inspections are contracted to SAFEbuilt: 770-474-9393
Height - Front Yard
Residential districts: 4 ft max in or along a front yard. Town Center districts (TCMU, TCMF): 42 in max for a home fence next to the sidewalk, between the house and the street.
Height - Side/Rear
Residential districts: 8 ft max outside the front yard. Town Center districts (TCMU, TCMF): 6 ft max between the house and the lot line.
Height Notes
The rule is two sentences that must be read together: 4 ft in or along a front yard, and 8 ft everywhere else in a residential district. Quoting only the first half wrongly suggests a 4 ft citywide cap. Other districts: commercial (NC, GC, RSC) and institutional (O&I) allow 8 ft overall and 4 ft in front yards, with no wire, chain link or metal fences; industrial (M-1, M-2) allows 10 ft overall and 6 ft in front yards; the Town Center districts (TCMU, TCMF) are outside this section and carry their own limits. Columns and ornaments may exceed the limits by no more than 3 inches. The ordinance doesn't say how fence height is measured.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Every street-facing side counts as a front, so the residential 4 ft limit applies. Two sight triangles apply: nothing 3 to 15 ft tall within 20 ft of where street, road, highway or railroad right-of-way lines meet, and nothing over 3 ft within 15 ft of where those lines extended meet for two streets or a street and a railroad.
Materials Allowed
No general materials restriction for home fences. Commercial (NC, GC, RSC) and institutional (O&I) districts bar wire, chain link and metal. Industrial districts: exposed metal on a front-yard fence must be vinyl coated or painted a standard dark brown, dark green or black. Screening fences: wood, brick, stone, concrete, or concrete block with architectural treatment; chain link with wood or plastic inserts allowed only in M-1 and M-2.
Materials Prohibited
Commercial (NC, GC, RSC) and institutional (O&I) districts: no fence of wire, chain link or metal. Roosevelt Highway Corridor: no chain link, and no solid fences next to public streets. Chain link and barbed wire may not serve as screening. Residential districts carry no general materials ban.
Historic Districts
HD Historic Overlay District, Sec. 7-1: inside the overlay, no building permit or other permit for construction or alteration is issued until the plans and elevations are reviewed and approved in writing by the Planning Commission and the Mayor and Council. The ordinance's definition of structure excludes walls and fences, so ask Community Development whether your fence needs that approval. No Certificate of Appropriateness process and no historic preservation commission.
Setbacks
No setback from a property line: a fence may sit on the line, and fences are expressly not counted as yard encroachments. No wall or fence in a public right-of-way.
Design Requirements
No finished-side rule. Town Center districts (TCMU, TCMF): 42 in max for a home fence next to the sidewalk, between the house and the street. Town Center: no non-residential fence between the building and the sidewalk, except where outdoor dining is provided. Town Center: 6 ft max for a fence or wall between the house and the lot line. Apart from that 42 in home fence, no fence or wall between the house and the street. TCMF: next to a sidewalk along a public street, a fence and retaining wall together may not exceed 5 ft. Town Center: no wall other than a retaining wall between the street and any building, except screening for an authorized loading area. Where the UD overlay applies, the stricter rule controls.
Gates
Entrances must be at least 14 ft apart at the driveway so emergency vehicles can pass.
Source
Union City Zoning Ordinance Secs. 5-16, 6-15 and 6-16 (Rev. II, 2/18/2025)
Notes
Governed by the city's Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5-16, a standalone PDF (the zoning code is not on Municode). Community Development: 770-515-7950

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 Fulton County

Fence rules change from one city and unincorporated area to the next. Compare Union City with nearby jurisdictions:

All Fulton County fence rules →

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