City of Charlotte fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the City of Charlotte? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Charlotte 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 Charlotte (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Fee
- No cost (CDOT Fence and Wall Certificate) source
- Distance from lot line
- Fences may not be built in a storm drainage easement if they block or materially impede stormwater flow; keep CDOT sight distance triangles clear at intersections. source
- How to apply
- Email, mail source
Still being confirmed with Charlotte: What fence heights does Charlotte UDO Article 17 allow in front, side and rear yards?
How to file for a fence permit in the City of Charlotte
Steps based on charlottenc.gov — Fence and Wall Certificates
- If your fence borders a city street or sidewalk, fill out the CDOT Fence and Wall Certificate Application.
- Attach a scaled drawing with the fence dimensioned from the right-of-way (applications without a drawing can't be processed).
- Email it to [email protected] or mail it to CDOT Design Section, 600 East Fourth Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 (questions: 704-336-4119).
- For a fence or wall over 6 ft, also get a building permit from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Building Standards (311 or 704-336-7600).
- Check UDO Article 17 for height limits (zoning help: 704-336-6692, [email protected]).
- Call 811 before digging.
- Paying
- No cost
Who to contact
- Phone
- 704-336-4119
- [email protected]
- Address
- CDOT Design Section, 600 East Fourth Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Contact from charlottenc.gov — Fence and Wall Certificates
What to submit
- Fence and Wall Certificate Application, signed by the owner or applicant
- Engineering scaled drawing showing property lines, curb/sidewalk or pavement edge, the fence location dimensioned from the right-of-way, driveways, street names and a north arrow
- Description of material, length, width, height and footing
Other rules to know
- Any fence or wall built along a city street needs a no-cost Fence and Wall Certificate from the Charlotte Department of Transportation in lieu of a permit; it does not apply to fences elsewhere on private property.
- Fence heights are set by Article 17 of the Charlotte UDO, which was not opened here (the certificate application, current as of Oct. 2021, quotes heights from the previous zoning ordinance).
- A building permit from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Building Standards (311 or 704-336-7600) is needed for fences or walls over six feet; the certificate does not replace it.
- Only a licensed NC surveyor can fix exact lot lines; Charlotte Explorer and Polaris 3G give approximations.
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 Charlotte, NC?
Not confirmed. Contact the City of Charlotte before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Charlotte?
Fences may not be built in a storm drainage easement if they block or materially impede stormwater flow; keep CDOT sight distance triangles clear at intersections.
How much is a fence permit in the City of Charlotte?
No cost (CDOT Fence and Wall Certificate).
How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Charlotte?
If your fence borders a city street or sidewalk, fill out the CDOT Fence and Wall Certificate Application. Attach a scaled drawing with the fence dimensioned from the right-of-way (applications without a drawing can't be processed). Email it to [email protected] or mail it to CDOT Design Section, 600 East Fourth Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 (questions: 704-336-4119). For a fence or wall over 6 ft, also get a building permit from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Building Standards (311 or 704-336-7600). Check UDO Article 17 for height limits (zoning help: 704-336-6692, [email protected]). buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Charlotte (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Charlotte?
CDOT Fence and Wall Certificates. Phone 704-336-4119, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from the City of Charlotte's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for the City of Charlotte? 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.