FENCE RULES – GREENE (COUNTY), TENNESSEE
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Greene (County), subject to local regulations.
Fencing standards within the unincorporated areas of Greene County are primarily established to maintain traffic safety and protect public infrastructure. These rules apply to residential properties located outside of municipal boundaries. The county prioritizes the maintenance of clear sightlines at intersections and the preservation of utility and drainage easements to ensure long-term accessibility and safety. All installations must adhere to the placement and visibility standards defined by the county’s zoning and subdivision resolutions.
Compiled From the Greene County Zoning Resolution (Updated December 2015) and the Greene County Subdivision Regulations (Amended January 2013) as of February 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Tennessee does not publish a statewide residential fence code. For properties located within unincorporated Greene County, residential fence standards are administered by the Greene County Building & Zoning Department.
The primary regulatory framework is established through the Greene County Zoning Resolution and the Greene County Subdivision Regulations. The county does not maintain a consolidated fence code; instead, standards for enclosures are integrated into general provisions regarding vision clearance and easement protections.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
Standard residential fences do not require a building permit in Greene County. While fences are broadly categorized as structures in regional definitions, they fall below the administrative threshold for structural permitting.
• Building Permit Exemption: A building permit is not required for the installation of a typical residential fence. Construction standards for more complex enclosures are governed by the locally adopted building codes.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with the Greene County Building & Zoning Department before construction.
• Swimming Pool Barriers: Fences serving as safety barriers for swimming pools must meet specific safety requirements, including self-closing and self-latching gate hardware, as dictated by adopted safety codes.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• General Placement: The ordinance does not state a setback requirement for standard residential fences from property lines; however, fences must be located entirely on the owner’s property and must not encroach into rights-of-way or easements.
• Easements: Fences are prohibited within recorded utility or drainage easements if they obstruct access or the flow of water. The county maintains the right to remove obstructions within these areas at the owner’s expense if maintenance is required.
• Public Right-of-Way: No fence or wall shall be placed within the public road right-of-way.
• Corner Lot Radii: At street intersections, property lines must be rounded with a radius to permit desirable curb construction, and fencing must follow these property line configurations.
• Utility Safety: Tennessee’s Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act (TCA 65-31-101) requires everyone who digs to contact Tennessee 811 at least three (3) working days’ notice before starting a project. Tennessee 811 processes the notification of proposed excavation and notifies member utilities, or their contract locators, to mark their underground facilities prior to the excavation.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Standard Residential Height: Greene County does not publish a defined maximum height limit for standard residential fences in side or rear yards within the provided zoning text.
• Vision Clearance (Sight Triangle): To ensure traffic safety, no fence, wall, or other obstruction to vision between the height of three (3) feet and fifteen (15) feet is permitted within twenty (20) feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of streets or the intersection of streets and railroads.
• Buffer Material Height: Where buffer strips are required for screening (such as when a parcel abuts a different zoning class), they must consist of plant material or growth characteristics that provide an obscuring screen not less than six (6) feet in height.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• General Standards: Greene County does not publish a list of prohibited materials for standard residential fencing in unincorporated areas.
• Structural Stability: All fences must be maintained in a safe and upright condition. Fences must not be constructed in a manner that creates a hazard to the public or interferes with the natural flow of stormwater.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
HOA requirements and private covenants operate independently from Greene County regulations. Private rules may impose fence height, material, placement, or approval requirements that are more restrictive than County standards. County approval or the lack of a permit requirement does not override private restrictions.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Visibility Obstructions: Fences or walls placed within the 20-foot intersection vision clearance zone that exceed three (3) feet in height.
• Easement Encroachment: Placement of a fence within a recorded utility or drainage easement that interferes with infrastructure access.
• Right-of-Way Violations: Installing a fence that encroaches upon or obstructs a public road right-of-way or pedestrian path.
• Zoning Non-Compliance: Installing a fence that violates specific site conditions or plat-specific restrictions without proper verification.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Greene (County), based on publicly available materials reviewed as of February 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Tennessee laws apply statewide. See Statewide fence laws in Tennessee.
It is not legal advice and does not replace official ordinances, permits, surveys, or professional guidance. Rules and interpretations may change, and application may vary based on zoning district, site conditions, easements, rights-of-way, and private restrictions such as HOA covenants. Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, confirm current requirements and any site-specific limitations with Greene County Building & Zoning Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Greene County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.