City of Durham fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Durham? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Durham before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Durham (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed
- Good side faces
- A finished side of all fences shall face off site; if posts are visible on one side only, that side is the unfinished side (UDO 9.9.2A). source
- Not allowed
- Razor wire, concertina wire, barbed wire and similar materials in residential districts and next to residential uses (except Rural Tier); electric fences in street frontage need a minor special use permit. Walls may not be placed in drainage, utility or similar easements. source
- How to apply
- Call 919-560-4144
Still being confirmed with Durham: Is a fence permit or zoning check needed for this property (flood plain, pool barrier), and does the 4 ft or the 6 ft corner-lot limit apply? No staff email is published.
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Durham
- No permit is generally needed for a standard residential fence; check first if the lot is in a flood plain or the fence is a pool barrier.
- Call City-County Building & Safety at 919-560-4144 (or Planning at 919-560-4137 for Board of Adjustment questions) to confirm.
- Keep the fence within the 4 ft front / 8 ft side and rear limits, or ask about a Board of Adjustment use permit or variance.
- Call 811 before digging.
Who to contact
City-County Building & Safety
Permits and zoning enforcement for the City and County
- Phone
- 919-560-4144
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Address
- 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701
Contact from durhamnc.gov — City County Building Safety
Other rules to know
- City page: generally no permit is needed for fences or walls in Durham City or County limits, unless the property is in a designated flood plain.
- A permit is required when the fence or wall is a pool barrier on a single-family parcel; retaining walls require a permit.
- Lots of 2 acres or more: a see-through fence up to 8 ft may be allowed without Board of Adjustment approval if at least 50 ft from any right-of-way.
- Taller fences than the by-right limits need a variance from the Board of Adjustment (UDO 3.14.8).
- Sight distance triangles must be maintained (UDO 9.9.1E).
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 City of Durham, NC?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Durham before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance. City page: generally no permit is needed for fences or walls in Durham City or County limits, unless the property is in a designated flood plain.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the City of Durham?
A finished side of all fences shall face off site; if posts are visible on one side only, that side is the unfinished side (UDO 9.9.2A).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Durham?
No permit is generally needed for a standard residential fence; check first if the lot is in a flood plain or the fence is a pool barrier. Call City-County Building & Safety at 919-560-4144 (or Planning at 919-560-4137 for Board of Adjustment questions) to confirm. Keep the fence within the 4 ft front / 8 ft side and rear limits, or ask about a Board of Adjustment use permit or variance. Call 811 before digging. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Durham (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Durham?
City-County Building & Safety, Permits and zoning enforcement for the City and County. Phone 919-560-4144.
Sources
Summarized from the City of Durham's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Durham UDO Sec. 9.9 Fences and Walls
Work for the City of Durham? 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.