GeorgiaFence Rules

Barrow County

Fence Rules in Winder, 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 Winder, fence height limits are: front yards, Single-family, multifamily and TNPD: 4 ft max; Agricultural and industrial: 6 ft max; B-1, B-2 and Downtown DT: no front-yard fence, with narrow exceptions; Interior side and back yards: 8 ft max; On a corner lot both street frontages count as front yards, so the front-yard limit applies to both.

Required for fences and walls; Fee: $100 on the city's FY 2026 fee schedule, covering the permit and the inspection; Planning and Development, 770-867-3510, planning@cityofwinder.com.

On corner lots in Winder: Nothing over 30 in tall (fence, wall, sign or plantings) inside the sight triangle at an intersection. The triangle is drawn between two points measured 25 ft from where the pavement edges or curbs of the two streets meet; Tree branches inside the triangle must stay at least 8 ft above grade.

Pool fences in Winder: 6 ft minimum, with a latching or similar secure closure; That is well above Georgia's 48 in state floor, so a 48 in barrier will not pass here; Pools can't go in any front yard, and no pool, deck, pool fence or related structure may come within 10 ft of any lot line.

Fence setbacks in Winder: Never in the public right-of-way without the Zoning Administrator's written approval, and that approval can be revoked if the fence conflicts with public utilities or public safety.

Prohibited fence materials in Winder: Never allowed in any district: exposed concrete block, tires, scrap metal, sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallets, junk and other discarded items; Barbed wire, razor wire, electric fences and similar fences meant to injure: banned in residential districts.

Fence Regulations

Winder

Apply for Permit
Permit Requirements
Required for fences and walls. Fee: $100 on the city's FY 2026 fee schedule, covering the permit and the inspection. Planning and Development, 770-867-3510, planning@cityofwinder.com
Height - Front Yard
Single-family, multifamily and TNPD: 4 ft max. Agricultural and industrial: 6 ft max. B-1, B-2 and Downtown DT: no front-yard fence, with narrow exceptions.
Height - Side/Rear
Interior side and back yards: 8 ft max. On a corner lot both street frontages count as front yards, so the front-yard limit applies to both.
Height Notes
Where two limits inside the fence section conflict, the taller one applies, but the Zoning Administrator can set a lower limit where a public safety issue has been identified. Corner lots: Sec. 2-1 counts both street frontages as front yards, so the front-yard limit applies along both. B-1 and B-2 commercial: no fence or wall in the front yard at all, chain link included, except around a detention pond. Downtown DT: under Sec. 8-1, a front-yard fence is allowed only next to ground-floor homes, around approved outdoor dining, or around a utility structure. Outdoor-dining fencing is capped at 30 in and cannot sit in the sidewalk. Special caps: tennis, basketball or other recreation court fences may reach 12 ft; an approved gated multi-family enclosure may reach 8 ft; enclosures for approved stormwater ponds, utility or telecommunications facilities, cemeteries, or playgrounds at day cares, nonprofits and private K-12 schools are capped at 6 ft. City Council can allow taller fences as a rezoning or conditional-use condition.
Pool Fences
View Pool Fence Safety Requirements
Corner Lots
Nothing over 30 in tall (fence, wall, sign or plantings) inside the sight triangle at an intersection. The triangle is drawn between two points measured 25 ft from where the pavement edges or curbs of the two streets meet. Tree branches inside the triangle must stay at least 8 ft above grade. Height is measured from the top of the curb, or from the pavement edge where there is no curb. Doesn't apply in zoning districts with zero-foot setbacks.
Materials Allowed
Front yards and sides facing a street: decorative fences only, in brick, stone, cast stone, vinyl, wood (split rail included), or wrought iron. The Zoning Administrator can approve other decorative materials in writing. Cattle fencing, including welded wire and hog wire: allowed in residential districts only as infill inside a finished frame that is part of an approved fence design, never as the whole fence. Frames are wood post-and-rail, decorative wood panels or metal, with posts of wood, masonry or ornamental metal and rails at top and bottom. Framing must be finished, stained, painted or otherwise treated, and the wire must be uniform in gauge and finish and kept free of rust, sagging or deformation. The cattle fencing rule is Ord. W-9-26, adopted 5-7-2026 and not yet shown in the online code.
Materials Prohibited
Never allowed in any district: exposed concrete block, tires, scrap metal, sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallets, junk and other discarded items. Barbed wire, razor wire, electric fences and similar fences meant to injure: banned in residential districts. Barbed wire can be approved as a conditional use in agricultural, commercial and industrial districts. In residential districts: no unframed or standalone cattle fencing, no loose or temporary wire, and no farm-style installs such as field fencing on metal T-posts. Vinyl-coated chain link in a front yard or street-facing side yard: only around a stormwater facility. Woven wire and metal fabric in a front yard or street-facing side yard: only in agricultural, industrial or government districts.
Historic Districts
Historic District Number One: you need a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before you put up, alter or remove a fence or wall. This is city code Sec. 19-50, not the zoning ordinance. The commission has 45 days to decide, and failure to act within 45 days counts as approval. The boundary map is on file at the city clerk-treasurer's office.
Setbacks
Never in the public right-of-way without the Zoning Administrator's written approval, and that approval can be revoked if the fence conflicts with public utilities or public safety.
Design Requirements
Front yards and sides facing a street: decorative fences only.
Source
Winder Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A) Sec. 3-20, as amended by Ord. W-9-26
Notes
Governed by Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3-20. Planning and Development, 138 Sweetwater Trail: 770-867-3510, planning@cityofwinder.com

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 Barrow County

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

All Barrow County fence rules →

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