Raleigh Fence Permit Site Plan Requirements

Example of a Raleigh fence site plan showing the proposed fence, property boundaries, gates, driveway, existing house, two street frontages, and corner-lot visibility considerations.

A residential fence can provide privacy, security, pool protection, pet containment, and a clear separation between outdoor spaces. Before posts are installed, however, Raleigh homeowners need to confirm where the legal property lines are, how tall the fence may be, and whether its location affects a street, driveway, easement, utility, drainage area, or intersection.

A clear Raleigh fence permit site plan shows the complete fence route in relation to the property boundaries, existing house, driveway, gates, sidewalks, streets, rights-of-way, easements, and surrounding site features.

This guide explains Raleigh’s fence-permit process, front and backyard fence-height rules, gate placement, corner-lot visibility, property-line issues, easements, and what should appear on a permit-ready site plan.

For a broader overview of local residential permit drawings, visit our

Raleigh site plan for permit guide
.

Do you need a permit for a fence in Raleigh?

Yes. The City of Raleigh requires a zoning permit when a fence is installed on any property.^[1]

A permit is also required when a homeowner:

• Adds a new fence
• Moves an existing fence
• Replaces 50% or more of an existing residential fence
• Changes the fence material
• Changes the fence height
• Changes the fence location

Even when less than half of the fence is replaced, a zoning permit is required if its material, height, or location changes.^[1]

The City reviews fence projects for compliance with the Raleigh development code and applicable North Carolina building requirements. Fences near intersections, on properties with more than one street frontage, or within a front or street-facing yard receive additional transportation and visibility review.

What documents does Raleigh request?

For a residential fence application, Raleigh identifies three core submission items:

• A completed Residential Permit Application
• A diagram or picture showing the proposed fence design
• A site plan showing the proposed fence on the property

The City also recommends using its Residential Tier One Site Plan Checklist as a guide. Application forms and supporting documents are submitted as unsecured PDF files through the Permit and Development Portal.^[1]

What is a fence permit site plan?

A fence site plan is an overhead drawing showing exactly where the proposed fence and gates will be installed.

It is different from the fence-elevation or product diagram:

• Site plan: Shows the fence route, property lines, streets, driveway, gates, easements, and surrounding improvements.
• Fence diagram: Shows the material, height, post spacing, pickets, panels, rails, openings, and overall appearance.
• Gate detail: Shows the gate width, height, material, latch, and operating method.

The site plan answers the question, “Where will the fence go?” The fence diagram answers, “What will the fence look like?”

Our

site plan for permit guide

explains how an overhead property drawing supports zoning review.

What should a Raleigh fence site plan show?

The site plan should show the entire property—not only one fence panel or a cropped section of the yard.

1. Legal property lines

Show the complete front, rear, left-side, and right-side property boundaries.

Fence placement should be based on the legal property lines rather than automatically relying on:

• An existing fence
• A hedge or row of trees
• The edge of a driveway
• A sidewalk
• A curb
• The edge of the pavement
• A drainage ditch
• A utility pole

These visible features may not sit on the recorded boundary. When the boundary cannot be established from reliable documents or survey monuments, a North Carolina licensed land surveyor may be needed.

Read our

setbacks and zoning guide

for more information about property boundaries and required yards.

2. Lot dimensions

Include the overall lot width and depth and any irregular boundary dimensions available from the survey, plat, or recorded property information.

Accurate lot dimensions help reviewers compare the proposed fence with:

• Street rights-of-way
• Side and rear boundaries
• Corner-lot frontages
• Recorded easements
• Existing structures

3. Existing house and structures

Show and label the existing house and other significant improvements, including:

• Garage or carport
• Shed
• Deck and stairs
• Pergola or gazebo
• Pool or spa
• Patio
• Retaining walls
• Outdoor kitchen
• Existing fence sections

These features help the reviewer understand how the fence affects access, gates, maintenance areas, utilities, visibility, and the use of the yard.

For related projects, see our

Raleigh deck permit site plan guide
,

Raleigh pergola permit guide
,
and

Raleigh detached garage site plan guide
.

4. Proposed fence route

Draw every proposed fence section and clearly distinguish it from existing fencing.

The plan should indicate:

• Where the new fence begins and ends
• Which existing sections will remain
• Which sections will be removed or replaced
• Fence length along each property side
• Changes in material or height
• Connections to the house or another structure
• Open areas where no fence is proposed

Use a clear line type or label so the permit reviewer can immediately identify the proposed work.

5. Fence height and material

Label the proposed height and material for each section.

Examples include:

• Six-foot wood privacy fence
• Four-foot aluminum decorative fence
• Vinyl privacy panels
• Open metal picket fence
• Wire or welded-wire fence
• Existing fence to remain

Do not use one height label when the street-facing, side-yard, and rear-yard sections have different designs.

6. Gate locations

Show every pedestrian and vehicle gate.

Useful gate information includes:

• Gate width
• Gate height
• Single- or double-gate design
• Approximate swing direction
• Latch side
• Connection to a walkway or driveway
• Distance from a street or sidewalk
• Clear access for trash bins, lawn equipment, or vehicles

Raleigh’s general fence ordinance does not establish one universal swing direction for every residential gate. The design should nevertheless avoid obstructing a public sidewalk, street, driveway visibility area, utility feature, or neighbouring property.

7. Driveways and sidewalks

Show the driveway, curb cut, sidewalk, walkway, and any gate crossing the driveway.

The plan should make it easy to understand:

• Where vehicles enter and leave the property
• Whether a driveway gate will have enough clearance
• Whether the gate could block the sidewalk
• Whether fencing affects visibility when backing out
• Whether the fence crosses a public right-of-way

8. Streets and rights-of-way

Label every adjoining street and right-of-way.

For a corner lot, identify:

• Primary street
• Side street
• Both street-facing property lines
• Sidewalks and curbs
• Driveway access
• Nearby intersection

Primary- and side-street setback measurements are taken from the edge of the existing or proposed right-of-way, whichever controls—not necessarily from the curb or pavement edge.^[6]

9. Easements and utilities

Show all recorded and known easements affecting the proposed fence route.

These may include:

• City utility easement
• Drainage easement
• Sewer easement
• Waterline easement
• Access easement
• Public utility easement
• Greenway easement
• Private utility easement

Also show known features such as:

• Water meter
• Sewer cleanout
• Storm drain inlet
• Manhole
• Utility pole
• Transformer
• Overhead electrical lines
• Drainage swale

Raleigh does not allow a wall or fence inside a City utility easement without prior written approval from the Public Utilities Director. A fence also cannot be placed in a required drainage easement without prior written approval from the Engineering Services Director.^[2]

10. Trees and conservation areas

Show significant trees and any known Tree Conservation Area affecting the fence route.

Raleigh’s UDO does not allow a wall or fence within a Tree Conservation Area.^[2]

Fence posts and installation equipment can also damage roots even where the fence itself sits outside the conservation boundary. Existing tree trunks, root areas, and landscaping should be considered before final placement.

11. North arrow, scale, and notes

Include:

• North arrow
• Graphic or written scale
• Property address
• Drawing date
• Fence legend
• Existing and proposed labels
• Material and height notes
• Readable dimensions

All labels should remain clear after the site plan is converted to PDF.

Does a Raleigh fence need a five-foot property-line setback?

Not automatically.

The five-foot measurements shown in the article illustration resemble accessory-building setbacks, but a fence is governed by Raleigh’s separate walls-and-fences standards.

The UDO allows fences within side, rear, front, and side-street setback areas, subject to height, opacity, material, visibility, easement, and right-of-way rules. It does not establish a universal five-foot setback for every residential fence.^[2]

This does not mean a homeowner should install a fence directly on what appears to be the boundary without verification.

Fence placement can still be affected by:

• Uncertain property lines
• Utility or drainage easements
• Tree Conservation Areas
• Street rights-of-way
• Sight-distance requirements
• Subdivision plats
• Recorded restrictive covenants
• Homeowners-association rules
• Shared-fence agreements

Raleigh fence height rules

Fence height depends on whether the fence is located in a front, side-street, side, or rear setback.

Front and side-street setbacks

Except in an IH district, a fence may generally be up to 6.5 feet high in a front or side-street setback when the opacity of the portion above four feet does not exceed 50%.^[2]

In practical terms, the lower four feet may be solid, but the section above four feet must generally be at least 50% open.

An acceptable design might use:

• Solid lower privacy panels with open lattice above
• Open metal pickets above the four-foot level
• Alternating open and solid elements
• A decorative transparent upper section

A fully solid 6.5-foot privacy fence within a front or side-street setback would not meet this general opacity rule.

Side and rear setbacks

A fence may generally be up to 8 feet high within a side or rear setback when the boundary is not adjacent to a street.

Where the side or rear setback is adjacent to a street, the maximum is generally 6.5 feet, and the portion above four feet must be no more than 50% opaque.^[2]

Is a four-foot fence required beside a street?

No. Four feet is not the universal maximum.

The UDO uses the four-foot level as the point above which additional openness is required in front and side-street setbacks. A fence can generally extend to 6.5 feet if the section above four feet satisfies the 50% opacity limit.

Chain-link fences near a street

Except in an IH district, Raleigh does not allow chain-link fencing within a front or side-street setback.^[2]

A chain-link fence may be acceptable elsewhere on the property, but the site plan should clearly identify:

• Where the chain-link section begins
• Its relationship to the front wall of the house
• Whether any portion enters a street-facing setback
• Fence height
• Gate material

Maximum continuous fence length

Raleigh limits a continuous, unbroken fence or wall plane to 100 feet.

A longer fence must include breaks created through one or more of the following:

• Columns
• Landscaped areas
• Transparent fence sections
• A change in material

This rule should be considered on large lots or long side boundaries. The site plan and fence diagram should identify where each break occurs.^[2]

Corner-lot fence requirements

Corner lots require more careful review because the property has two street frontages and is close to an intersection.

The City specifically states that fences on intersection properties, lots with more than one street frontage, and fences in front yards or near streets are reviewed for compliance with the Raleigh Street Design Manual.^[1]

A corner-lot site plan should show:

• Both street names
• Primary and side-street rights-of-way
• Sidewalks and curbs
• Intersection location
• Driveway
• Proposed street-facing fence sections
• Fence heights and opacity
• Gate locations
• Known sight-distance areas
• Trees, shrubs, walls, and other possible obstructions

Do not rely on a universal 10-by-10-foot visibility triangle

The 10-by-10-foot visibility triangle shown in the article image is an illustration only.

The actual sight-distance area can depend on:

• Street classification
• Traffic speed
• Intersection geometry
• Driveway location
• Sidewalk position
• Right-of-way width
• Direction of vehicle travel
• Existing topography

The permit reviewer may require a different visibility area based on the Raleigh Street Design Manual. Do not place tall solid fencing, walls, landscaping, or gate equipment inside a required sight area without approval.

Fences beside driveways and gates

A fence beside a driveway can obstruct the view of drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles approaching from the street.

The site plan should show:

• Driveway width
• Distance from the fence to the driveway edge
• Gate width
• Gate swing or sliding direction
• Sidewalk location
• Street and curb
• Fence height beside the driveway
• Any vegetation affecting visibility

A vehicle gate should provide enough room for a vehicle to enter or wait without blocking a sidewalk or travel lane. Where a gate is close to the street or intersection, transportation review may affect its final position.

Fences next to major thoroughfares

Raleigh applies additional screening rules to fences and walls near a designated Thoroughfare right-of-way.

A fence located within 20 feet of a Thoroughfare right-of-way generally must either:

• Be less than 42 inches high; or
• Be positioned at least 15 feet from the right-of-way and screened with evergreen planting so no more than one-quarter of the fence surface remains visible from the Thoroughfare within three years.

A fence more than 42 inches high and located between 20 and 40 feet from a Thoroughfare right-of-way generally requires landscaping that reduces its visibility. Decorative fencing that is more than 50% open is exempt from that particular planting requirement.^[2]

These rules do not apply to every residential street. The property’s road classification should be confirmed before designing a tall fence beside a major roadway.

Fence placement in easements

An easement gives another party certain rights to use part of the property. A fence can interfere with access to utilities, drainage facilities, sewer lines, water lines, or stormwater systems.

The site plan should identify:

• Easement width
• Easement location
• Fence sections crossing the easement
• Gate or removable-panel access
• Utility structures inside the easement

Written City approval may be needed before a fence is installed within a City utility or required drainage easement. Approval is not automatic simply because another fence already exists nearby.

Historic districts and landmarks

A property within a Raleigh Historic District or designated as a Raleigh Historic Landmark may require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Raleigh Historic Development Commission before the fence permit application is submitted.^[1]

Historic review may consider:

• Fence location
• Visibility from the street
• Height
• Material
• Post and picket design
• Gate design
• Relationship to the historic house
• Removal of historic fencing or landscaping

Private wells and septic systems

Raleigh directs homeowners with private well or septic services to obtain Wake County Environmental Services approval before applying to the City.^[1]

The site plan should show known:

• Well location
• Septic tank
• Drain field
• Wastewater repair area
• Access routes for maintenance

Fence posts and gates should not block required access to the septic system or interfere with protected areas.

Pool fences and gates

A fence used as a swimming-pool barrier must meet additional safety requirements beyond the general zoning rules.

Raleigh’s pool guidance generally requires:

• A barrier at least 48 inches high
• Openings small enough to prevent passage of a four-inch sphere
• A maximum two-inch gap below a ground-level barrier
• Pedestrian gates that open outward, away from the pool
• Self-closing and self-latching pedestrian gates
• A locking-device provision
• A barrier design that limits climbing

The pool-fence layout, gates, pool equipment, deck, and house access should all appear on the site plan when the fence is part of a pool-permit application.^[7]

Homeowners-association and private restrictions

A City permit confirms compliance with municipal requirements. It does not automatically confirm compliance with private restrictions.

Before ordering materials, review:

• Homeowners-association design standards
• Subdivision covenants
• Architectural-review requirements
• Shared-fence agreements
• Neighbour agreements

An HOA may impose stricter rules concerning material, colour, height, location, and finished-face orientation than the City requires.

Common Raleigh fence site-plan mistakes

Fence applications may be delayed when the site plan or fence diagram does not clearly explain the proposal.

• Assuming a residential fence does not require a permit
• Failing to show the complete property
• Using an existing fence as the confirmed legal boundary
• Applying a five-foot accessory-building setback to every fence
• Showing only one fence height
• Failing to identify the material
• Leaving gates off the plan
• Omitting the driveway and sidewalk
• Failing to show both streets on a corner lot
• Using a universal 10-by-10-foot visibility triangle without confirmation
• Showing a four-foot street-facing maximum when a taller open design may be allowed
• Proposing a fully solid fence above four feet in a street-facing setback
• Placing chain-link fencing in a front or side-street setback
• Using an uninterrupted fence plane longer than 100 feet
• Leaving utility or drainage easements off the plan
• Placing a fence inside a Tree Conservation Area
• Ignoring Thoroughfare screening rules
• Submitting an undimensioned aerial image
• Using labels that become unreadable in the final PDF

Read our guide on

how to reduce permit corrections and approval delays
.

What to provide when ordering a Raleigh fence site plan

Collecting accurate information before drafting begins can reduce revisions.

Useful information includes:

• Complete property address
• Existing survey or recorded plat
• Proposed fence material
• Height of each fence section
• Approximate fence lengths
• Location and width of each gate
• Gate operating direction
• Sections to be removed or replaced
• Existing house and structure locations
• Driveway and sidewalk dimensions
• Both streets on a corner lot
• Known rights-of-way
• Known utility and drainage easements
• Utility meters, poles, and drainage structures
• Significant trees and conservation areas
• Pool information where the fence forms a safety barrier
• Photos of the yard and existing fence
• HOA or historic-district requirements
• Any review comments already received from Raleigh

Homeowners elsewhere in the state can also review our

North Carolina site plan for permit guide
.

Frequently asked questions

Does every new residential fence in Raleigh require a permit?

Yes. Raleigh requires a zoning permit when a fence is installed on any property.

Do I need a permit to replace part of an existing fence?

A permit is required when replacing 50% or more of a residential fence. A permit is also required for a smaller replacement when the material, height, or location changes.

Does a Raleigh fence need to be five feet from the property line?

No universal five-foot fence setback applies. Fence placement is reviewed under Raleigh’s walls-and-fences standards rather than the accessory-building setback table. Property lines, easements, rights-of-way, visibility, and private restrictions must still be confirmed.

How high can a backyard fence be?

A fence in a side or rear setback that is not adjacent to a street may generally be up to eight feet high.

How high can a fence be beside a street?

A fence in a front or side-street setback may generally be up to 6.5 feet high when the portion above four feet is no more than 50% opaque.

Can I install a six-foot solid privacy fence beside the street?

A fully solid six-foot fence within a front or side-street setback generally conflicts with the rule limiting opacity above four feet. An open or partially transparent upper section may be required.

Can I use chain-link fencing in my front yard?

Except in an IH district, chain-link fencing is not allowed within a front or side-street setback.

Can the fence be more than 100 feet long?

Yes, but a continuous unbroken fence plane cannot exceed 100 feet. Longer fences require breaks using columns, landscaping, transparent sections, or material changes.

Does the site plan need to show gates?

Gates should be shown because their width, location, and operating direction affect access, sidewalks, driveway visibility, pool safety, and the complete fence layout.

Can I build a fence inside a utility easement?

A fence cannot be placed inside a City utility easement without prior written approval from the appropriate City authority. Required drainage easements also need written approval.

Is the visibility triangle always 10 feet by 10 feet?

No. The appropriate sight-distance area depends on the driveway, street, intersection, right-of-way, and Raleigh Street Design Manual requirements.

Can a site plan replace a boundary survey?

No. A permit site plan shows the proposed fence using available property information. A North Carolina licensed land surveyor establishes or verifies legal boundary locations.

Order a Raleigh fence permit site plan

A well-prepared fence site plan helps Raleigh reviewers understand where every fence section and gate will be installed, how the proposal relates to the legal property lines, and whether street frontage, visibility, easements, utilities, trees, or other site conditions affect the project.

USA Site Plans prepares residential permit site plans using available property records, customer-provided measurements, photographs, and proposed project information. Reasonable edits are included when a permit reviewer requests changes within the original project scope.

Permit, fence-height, opacity, visibility, easement, historic-review, pool-barrier, utility, and property-line requirements can change and may vary by site. Confirm current requirements with the City of Raleigh before installation. USA Site Plans does not replace a North Carolina licensed land surveyor, engineer, contractor, Wake County Environmental Services, homeowners association, or municipal authority where those services or approvals are required.