FENCE RULES – LAKELAND (CITY), TENNESSEE
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Lakeland, subject to local regulations.
For properties located outside City of Lakeland municipal limits, Shelby County regulates fences in unincorporated areas.
Fence rules for the City of Lakeland appear primarily in the City of Lakeland Land Development Regulations, including Section III.3.15, Fences and Walls, and in the Fence/Wall Permit Application administered by the City of Lakeland Planning Department. Related provisions appear in Lakeland Municipal Code Title 14, Chapter 7, Fences and Walls; Title 12, Building, Utility, Etc. Codes; the City’s retaining-wall provisions; and the Pool, Hot Tub, or Jacuzzi Permit Application.
This page focuses on typical single-family residential fencing. If the jurisdiction’s adopted code or ordinance materials do not state a specific limit or requirement, this page notes that the code does not specify one. If no local code or ordinance is available in the approved source packet, this page notes that the jurisdiction does not publish the relevant standard in the referenced published materials.
Compiled From the City of Lakeland Land Development Regulations, March 2025; City of Lakeland Fence/Wall Permit Application; Lakeland Municipal Code Title 12, Building, Utility, Etc. Codes; Lakeland Municipal Code Title 14, Chapter 7, Fences and Walls; City of Lakeland Pool, Hot Tub, or Jacuzzi Permit Application; Tennessee State Fire Marshal residential jurisdiction materials; and Tennessee 811 utility-notice materials as of July 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The City of Lakeland governs residential fence and wall rules through the City of Lakeland Land Development Regulations and the Fence/Wall Permit Application. The City of Lakeland Planning Department administers the fence/wall application process, and Minor Site Plan Review applications are submitted to the Code Administrator under the Land Development Regulations.
The Design Review Commission reviews certain fence installations under Section III.3.15, including fence or wall height above the standard limit because of steep slopes and athletic or agricultural fencing over the standard height. The Board of Appeals handles zoning appeals and variance functions assigned by the Land Development Regulations.
The City of Lakeland is listed as EXEMPT for Tennessee residential building-code enforcement. Lakeland Municipal Code Title 12 states that the building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas, and housing codes in effect in Shelby County are effective within City of Lakeland corporate limits and enforced by Shelby County personnel. This building-code administration context is separate from the City of Lakeland fence/wall permit and Minor Site Plan Review process.
The City Engineer administers the Floodplain Overlay District and retaining-wall provisions where those site-specific rules apply. The fence/wall standards themselves are local zoning and development standards rather than State Residential Building Permit rules.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Fence/Wall Permit and Review: All fences require review and approval through Minor Site Plan Review, unless otherwise stated. The Fence/Wall Permit Application requires a completed application, a site plan showing the fence location, and an HOA approval letter if the property is in an HOA.
• Landscape-Plan Context: The Land Development Regulations treat fences as part of a lot’s landscaping and require fences to be illustrated on a landscape plan when reviewed.
• Design Review Commission Review: Design Review Commission review through Site Plan Review or the Design Review process is required for fences or walls exceeding six (6) feet because of steep slopes, with documentation justifying the additional height. Design Review Commission review is also required for athletic and agricultural fencing over six (6) feet.
• Residential Building-Code Status: The City of Lakeland is listed as EXEMPT for Tennessee residential building-code enforcement, indicating local residential building-code administration. Lakeland Municipal Code Title 12 makes Shelby County building-code administration relevant inside the City, but that status does not replace the City’s fence/wall permit and Minor Site Plan Review requirement.
• Retaining Walls: Lakeland Municipal Code Title 12 separately requires a City of Lakeland permit to construct, enlarge, or make structural repairs to a retaining wall. Cosmetic repairs that do not affect the wall’s ability to resist lateral and vertical soil forces do not require that retaining-wall permit.
• Pool-Related Fences: The Pool, Hot Tub, or Jacuzzi Permit Application requires any proposed fence to be submitted through a fence permit application. The same application states that fabricated pool covers are not substitutes for required fencing. The municipal fence chapter states that swimming pools four (4) feet deep at any point must have a minimum four (4) foot fence surrounding the yard or pool area, with self-latching gates and latches placed four (4) feet above the ground or otherwise made inaccessible from outside to small children.
• Floodplain, Grading, and Erosion Context: Minor Site Plan Review materials may require information on drainageways, flood elevation, areas of special flood hazard, grading, stormwater management, utilities, and erosion or sediment controls where applicable. The Floodplain Overlay District requires a development permit before development activity in special flood hazard areas, and the erosion and sediment control chapter separately requires approval for land-disturbance activity unless exempted by subdivision or zoning regulations.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property-Line Placement: The Fence/Wall Information Sheet states that, unless stipulated elsewhere, a fence may be placed on the owner’s side of the property line. It also states that property owners are strongly recommended to have property lines marked by a registered land surveyor.
• Drainageways: No fence or wall may impede or divert the flow of water through any drainageway.
• Utility and Fire-Hydrant Access: Lakeland Municipal Code Title 14 states that a fence or wall may not block access to any fire hydrant, utility equipment, or above-ground pad-mounted electrical transformer. The code requires fifteen (15) feet of clear access to transformer doors from the street right-of-way for operation and maintenance.
• Floodplain and Site Conditions: Where a fence project involves land disturbance, grading, excavation, drainageways, flood elevation, or an area of special flood hazard, those site conditions may be reviewed through the applicable Minor Site Plan Review, floodplain, erosion-control, stormwater, or engineering process.
• Utility Safety: Tennessee law requires notice through Tennessee 811 before excavation where the Tennessee Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act applies. For fence projects that involve digging, including digging, drilling, augering, boring, grading, or other movement of earth, notice generally must be given at least three full working days before excavation begins. Tennessee 811 is a notification center and does not mark lines itself; member utilities or their locators mark covered facilities, and the excavator must check the positive-response status before beginning work where required. This statewide utility-notice framework is separate from local fence permitting, zoning, development approval, easement limits, right-of-way approvals, floodplain review, stormwater review, drainage review, historic or design review, HOA restrictions, and other applicable requirements.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Standard Height: The maximum average height of any fence or wall is six (6) feet, measured from the ground at the base of the fence or wall to the top of the fence boards or wall.
• Front Yards: Fences and walls located in front yards are limited to two and a half (2 1/2) feet. Solid fences located in front yards in the RE and A districts may be a maximum height of four (4) feet.
• Corner Visibility: Solid fences are not permitted within twenty-five (25) feet of any intersection of the Front and Corner Side Property Line.
• Open Water: Solid fences and walls over two and a half (2 1/2) feet are not permitted within twenty-five (25) feet of an Open Water body.
• Decorative Details: Posts, decorative columns, light fixtures, and other decorative details may exceed the applicable height limit by up to one (1) foot.
• Steep Slopes: On lots with steep slopes at property lines, fence or wall height may exceed six (6) feet up to a height that would not exceed six (6) feet above the existing yard or house grade, but in no case may the height exceed ten (10) feet. Design Review Commission review is required for fences or walls exceeding six (6) feet because of steep slopes.
• Athletic and Agricultural Fencing: Design Review Commission review through Site Plan Review or the Design Review process is required for athletic and agricultural fencing over six (6) feet.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Permitted Materials: Brick, stone, wood, composite wood, and metal are permitted fence and wall materials. PVC is permitted for all non-solid fencing on lots in residential districts. Materials must be finished quality and durable, treated to prevent disease or decay.
• Through Lots: Through Lot fences and walls on the rear property line must be solid, consisting of stone or brick, or wood fences with masonry or stone columns a minimum of every fifty (50) feet on center.
• Prohibited Materials: Barbed wire, chain link, exposed cinder or concrete block, metal mesh, razor wire, and single-wire fences are prohibited in all yards except where the Land Development Regulations state an exception.
• Dog Runs and Animal Pens: In the RE and R1-RM1 districts, chain link, single-wire, and metal mesh fencing are permitted for dog runs and animal pens if they are fully screened from view of the street.
• Agricultural District: In the AG: Agriculture district, electric, metal mesh, and single-wire fences are permitted in rear and side yards. Electric fencing requires warning signs two (2) square feet in area installed at regular intervals.
• Coated Chain Link: Chromate or vinyl coated chain link fabric fencing is permitted in the rear and side yard in all districts, except for Through Lots.
• Alternative Materials: The Design Review Commission may permit alternative fence materials when the alternative is deemed integral to and consistent with development of the site.
• Finished Face and Maintenance: The finished side of a fence must face outward from the lot. Fences and walls must always be in good condition by the owner.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Subdivision covenants, HOA rules, deed restrictions, private easements, architectural-review covenants, conservation easements, and private agreements operate independently from the City of Lakeland fence/wall rules and may be more restrictive.
The Fence/Wall Permit Application requires an HOA approval letter if the property is in an HOA. The application also states that covenants and private regulations are not enforceable by the City and may be more restrictive than City ordinances.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Fence/Wall Permit Review: All fences require review and approval through Minor Site Plan Review, unless otherwise stated, and the Fence/Wall Permit Application states that a final inspection must be scheduled once fence or wall construction is complete.
• Height and Design Review: Fence or wall height above six (6) feet because of steep slopes, and athletic or agricultural fencing over six (6) feet, is reviewed through the Design Review Commission process described in the Land Development Regulations.
• Visibility and Open-Water Limits: Solid fences near the intersection of the Front and Corner Side Property Line and solid fences or walls near an Open Water body are reviewed against the twenty-five (25) foot limits stated in Section III.3.15.
• Drainage, Floodplain, and Land Disturbance: Fence projects involving drainageways, grading, excavation, floodplain development, stormwater, erosion control, or other site conditions may be reviewed through the applicable City review process before or during permit approval.
• Materials and Maintenance: Permitted materials, prohibited materials, Through Lot fence construction, finished-face orientation, and maintenance condition are reviewed under the City of Lakeland fence and wall standards.
• Pool-Related Fences: Fences proposed with pools, hot tubs, or jacuzzis are routed through the fence permit application, and pool-related barrier requirements are separate from ordinary yard-fence placement.
• Utility Safety: Fence work involving digging is subject to the Tennessee 811 utility-notice framework, and local code separately protects access to fire hydrants, utility equipment, and above-ground pad-mounted electrical transformers.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Lakeland, based on the referenced published materials as of July 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, zoning approvals, zoning certifications, development approvals, State Residential Building Permits, adopted building codes, surveys, or professional guidance. Rules and interpretations may change, and application may vary based on zoning district, site conditions, easements, rights-of-way, floodplain status, stormwater requirements, drainage conditions, historic district status, design-review status, rural or agricultural context, livestock or enclosed-land context, residential building-code status, adopted-code status, opt-out status, pool-barrier use, Tennessee 811 utility safety requirements, overhead utility-line safety, and private restrictions such as HOA covenants, deed restrictions, private agreements, or conservation easements. Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, confirm current requirements and any site-specific limitations with City of Lakeland Planning Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Lakeland staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.