Unincorporated Gwinnett County fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Unincorporated Gwinnett County? No. Unincorporated Gwinnett County does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
At buildit.dog you can draw your fence on an aerial photo of your lot and check it against Unincorporated Gwinnett County's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 8 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 4 ft within the required front yard source
- Corner lots
- Corner lots have two front yards (4 ft limit on both street sides) source
- Distance from lot line
- No setback requirement for fences in any zoning district (UDO 230-80). source
- How to apply
- Online portal source
How to build within the rules in the Unincorporated Gwinnett County
Steps based on gwinnettcounty.com — building services
- Fence 8 ft or under? No County permit is needed; keep front-yard fences to 4 ft.
- Brick columns or a front-yard fence? Call Planning and Development (770-822-8000) to confirm.
- Call 811 before digging.
Who to contact
Planning and Development - Building Services
Gwinnett County
- Phone
- 770-822-8000
- P&[email protected]
- Address
- Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Contact from gwinnettcounty.com — building services
What to submit
- No permit for fences 8 ft or less; ask about brick columns or front-yard fences
Other rules to know
- County Building Services: fences 8 ft or less in height do not need a permit; contact Planning and Development to confirm for brick columns or front-yard fences.
- Pools deeper than 24 inches need a barrier at least 48 inches tall with self-closing, self-latching gates.
- Fences must be kept structurally sound, not externally braced, and painted or treated if not decay-resistant.
Before you dig
Call 811 before digging post holes so underground utility lines are marked. Find your lot corner markers and keep the fence on your side of the line. Find your lot corner markers and keep the fence on your side of the line. County parcel maps can be off by several feet; if you're not sure where the line is, a licensed land surveyor can stake it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in the Unincorporated Gwinnett County, GA?
No. Unincorporated Gwinnett County does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply. County Building Services: fences 8 ft or less in height do not need a permit; contact Planning and Development to confirm for brick columns or front-yard fences.
How tall can a fence be in the Unincorporated Gwinnett County?
Side and rear yards: 8 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft within the required front yard. Corner lots: Corner lots have two front yards (4 ft limit on both street sides).
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Unincorporated Gwinnett County?
No setback requirement for fences in any zoning district (UDO 230-80).
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Unincorporated Gwinnett County?
Planning and Development - Building Services, Gwinnett County. Phone 770-822-8000, email P&[email protected].
Sources
Summarized from Unincorporated Gwinnett County's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Unified Development Ordinance §230-80 (fences)
Work for Unincorporated Gwinnett County? Help us keep this right
If anything on this page is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it. Municipal staff reports are reviewed first. Please include a link to the current ordinance, form or fee schedule if you can.