Unincorporated Rutherford County fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Unincorporated Rutherford County? No. Unincorporated Rutherford 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 Rutherford County's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Distance from lot line
- On or inside your property line; not on another property or the County right-of-way, and not blocking vision triangles at driveways or intersections. source
- How to apply
- In person source
Still being confirmed with Unincorporated Rutherford County: What heights do the Rutherford County Fence Design Guidelines allow?
How to build within the rules in the Unincorporated Rutherford County
Steps based on rutherfordcountytn.gov — building faq
- Fill out the free Fence Design Guideline Affidavit with the Rutherford County Planning Department (1 Public Square South, #200) before installing.
- Keep the fence on your side of the line, out of the County right-of-way and vision triangles.
- Building Codes questions: 615-898-7734.
- Call 811 before digging.
- Paying
- No fee for the affidavit
Who to contact
- Phone
- 615-898-7734
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:15 p.m.
- Address
- Rutherford County Planning Department, 1 Public Square South, Room 200, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Contact from rutherfordcountytn.gov — building faq
Other rules to know
- No building permit is required for a fence (fences not over 7 ft are exempt), but you must fill out a Fence Design Guideline Affidavit with the Rutherford County Planning Department before installing; there's no fee.
- The County doesn't enforce subdivision covenants; check yours.
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 Rutherford County, TN?
No. Unincorporated Rutherford County does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
How close to the property line can I put a fence in the Unincorporated Rutherford County?
On or inside your property line; not on another property or the County right-of-way, and not blocking vision triangles at driveways or intersections.
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Unincorporated Rutherford County?
Rutherford County Building Codes Department. Phone 615-898-7734.
Sources
Summarized from Unincorporated Rutherford County's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for Unincorporated Rutherford 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.