Fence Installation in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh requires a zoning permit for any fence, bans chain link in front and side street setbacks, and allows 8 feet in back.
Get a fence quote in Raleigh
Send the details and we will review your request and check provider availability.
You never pay us. Privacy.
Fence rules in Raleigh
| Permit | A zoning permit is required for a fence on any property. At a home, get permits before adding or moving a fence or replacing 50 percent or more of one. (City of Raleigh, Fences, checked 2026-10-26) |
|---|---|
| Front yard height | Up to 6 and a half feet in a front or side street setback, but the part above 4 feet can be no more than 50 percent solid (IH districts excepted). (Raleigh UDO Sec. 7.2.8, Walls and Fences, checked 2026-10-26) |
| Back yard height | 8 feet in a side or rear setback, or 6 and a half feet (no more than 50 percent solid above 4 feet) where that yard runs along a street. (Raleigh UDO Sec. 7.2.8, Walls and Fences, checked 2026-10-26) |
| Corners and sight lines | Within 20 feet of a Thoroughfare right-of-way, a fence must be under 42 inches, or sit at least 15 feet back and be screened with evergreen plantings. (Raleigh UDO Sec. 7.2.8, Walls and Fences, checked 2026-10-26) |
| Pool barrier | Section 7.2.8 and the permit page give no pool enclosure standard. Call the Permit Helpline before you build one. (City of Raleigh, Fences, checked 2026-10-26) |
| Before you dig | Notify NC811 at least three full working days before the work starts. (North Carolina G.S. 87-122, checked 2026-10-26) |
| Who to ask | Apply through the city permit portal with a picture or diagram and a site plan. The Permit Helpline is 919-996-2500, and the city inspects the fence once it is built. (City of Raleigh, Fences, checked 2026-10-26) |
| Also good to know | Approved plans that have not been issued, for example because contractor details are missing, stay active for up to six months. After that the application is voided and an administrative fee may apply. (City of Raleigh, Fences, checked 2026-10-26) |
How tall a fence can be in Raleigh
In a Raleigh front or side street setback, a fence can be up to 6 and a half feet tall, but any part above 4 feet can be no more than 50% solid. IH districts are the exception. (Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 7.2.8, checked October 2026)
In a side or rear setback, a Raleigh fence can be up to 8 feet tall. If that yard runs along a street, the limit is 6 and a half feet, and anything above 4 feet can be no more than 50% solid. (Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 7.2.8, checked October 2026)
Permits in Raleigh
Raleigh requires a zoning permit for a fence on any property. At a home, you need permits before adding or moving a fence or replacing 50% or more of one, and even a smaller replacement needs a zoning permit if the material, height or location changes. (City of Raleigh, Fences, checked October 2026)
A Raleigh fence application needs a picture or diagram of the proposed fence and a site plan showing the work on the property. The city inspects the fence after it has been built. (City of Raleigh, Fences, checked October 2026)
Where the fence can go
Chain-link fences are not allowed in any front or side street setback in Raleigh, except in an IH district. (Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 7.2.8, checked October 2026)
A Raleigh fence cannot go in a tree conservation area. It also cannot go in a City of Raleigh utility easement without written approval from the Public Utilities Director, or in a required drainage easement without written approval from the Engineering Services Director. (Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 7.2.8, checked October 2026)
Raleigh caps a continuous, unbroken stretch of fence at 100 feet. The break can be a column, a planted area, a see-through section or a change in material. (Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 7.2.8, checked October 2026)
Within 20 feet of a Thoroughfare right-of-way, a Raleigh fence must be under 42 inches tall, or sit at least 15 feet back from the right-of-way with evergreen plantings that hide all but a quarter of it from the road within 3 years. (Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 7.2.8, checked October 2026)
Before you dig in North Carolina
North Carolina law requires whoever is digging to notify the Notification Center at least three full working days before the work starts. The notice expires 28 calendar days after the work start date. (N.C. General Statutes, Sec. 87-122, checked October 2026)
Checking a fence company in Raleigh
Under North Carolina's contractor licensing law, anyone paid to build an improvement or structure that costs $40,000 or more counts as a general contractor. (N.C. General Statutes, Sec. 87-1, checked October 2026)
Also worth knowing in Raleigh
If your Raleigh home is in a Historic District or is a Raleigh Historic Landmark, you must submit a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Raleigh Historic Development Commission, and its approval may be needed before you apply. A property with a private well or septic system needs Wake County Environmental Services approval before applying with the city. (City of Raleigh, Fences, checked October 2026)
Vinyl, chain link and cost in Raleigh
Raleigh does not allow chain link in any front or side street setback outside IH districts, so a chain link fence there belongs in the back or interior side yard. For a street-facing fence taller than 4 feet, the part above 4 feet can be no more than half solid, so a fully solid privacy panel cannot run above that line. Ask the city whether the lattice top you have in mind meets the 50 percent limit. Fixr prices vinyl lattice and shadowbox styles at $18 to $45 a foot installed and 6 foot galvanized chain link at $15.25 to $25.40. (Raleigh UDO Sec. 7.2.8, Walls and Fences, checked 2026-10-26) (Fixr chain link and vinyl costs, checked 2026-10-26)
National figures, not a Raleigh price survey. Price your own yard with the calculator, or see the vinyl, chain link and wood cost guides.
See how Raleigh's rules compare with the other cities we cover in the fence height and permit table.
Comparing companies?
We ranked 16 Raleigh fence companies on their Google ratings, years in business, insurance and emergency or storm repair work: best fence companies in Raleigh.
Areas served
Raleigh and nearby Cary, Garner, Knightdale, Wake Forest, Apex, Morrisville.