Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County fence permit
Do you need a fence permit in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County? Not confirmed. Contact Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County 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 Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Not confirmed source
- Side and rear yards
- 8 ft source
- Front (street) yard
- 6 ft front yard (solid or open); open fences to 6 ft allowed within 10 ft of right-of-way; solid fences over 30 inches at least 10 ft from right-of-way source
- Corner lots
- No fences in the 35-foot visibility zone (except Urban Zoning Overlay); side street frontage follows the 10 ft rule and 6 ft maximum source
- Distance from lot line
- No zoning setback from a neighboring property line; fence may be on but not over the line; none within 6 ft of a fire hydrant or between a hydrant and the right-of-way. source
- Good side faces
- Cross beams and bracing must face the interior of the property. source
- Not allowed
- Barbed wire, electric fencing and fences with sharp projections prohibited or restricted (Metro Code §16.04.200). source
- How to apply
- Call 615-862-6500 source
Still being confirmed with Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County: Does a new residential fence in Nashville need any zoning or building permit (2022 list says no building permit)?
How to file for a fence permit in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
- Confirm lot lines with a survey (Metro does not mark property lines).
- Get utility permission before building in a utility easement; check overlays with Planning.
- Call Codes (615-862-6500) or hubNashville to confirm whether any permit applies.
- Call Tennessee 811 at least three working days before digging.
- Call 811 before digging.
Who to contact
- Phone
- 615-862-6500
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-4:00 PM
- Address
- Metro Office Building, 800 President Ronald Reagan Way, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37210
Contact from nashville.gov — fence
Other rules to know
- Metro's Building Permit Required list (2022 PDF) marks 'Fence - new - must comply with zoning code' as not needing a building permit; fences in historic districts: call the Historical Commission.
- Fences in drainage ditches, flood overlays, stream buffers or around retention ponds need Metro Stormwater approval; Specific Plan/Urban Design Overlay properties may have extra rules; HOA approval does not override Metro zoning.
- The fence page does not itself state whether a permit is required; Metro also offers 311 / 615-862-5000 and hub.nashville.gov.
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 Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, TN?
Not confirmed. Contact Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.
How tall can a fence be in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County?
Side and rear yards: 8 ft. Front (street) yard: 6 ft front yard (solid or open); open fences to 6 ft allowed within 10 ft of right-of-way; solid fences over 30 inches at least 10 ft from right-of-way. Corner lots: No fences in the 35-foot visibility zone (except Urban Zoning Overlay); side street frontage follows the 10 ft rule and 6 ft maximum.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County?
No zoning setback from a neighboring property line; fence may be on but not over the line; none within 6 ft of a fire hydrant or between a hydrant and the right-of-way.
Which side of the fence has to face the neighbor in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County?
Cross beams and bracing must face the interior of the property.
How do I apply for a fence permit in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County?
Confirm lot lines with a survey (Metro does not mark property lines). Get utility permission before building in a utility easement; check overlays with Planning. Call Codes (615-862-6500) or hubNashville to confirm whether any permit applies. Call Tennessee 811 at least three working days before digging. 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 Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County?
Department of Codes & Building Safety. Phone 615-862-6500.
Sources
Summarized from Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Ordinance: Metro Code §16.04.200 (prohibited fence types)
Work for Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson 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.