FENCE RULES – SMYRNA (TOWN), TENNESSEE
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Smyrna, subject to local regulations.
The Town of Smyrna regulates the placement and installation of fences and walls to ensure public safety and the protection of local infrastructure. These standards distinguish between decorative fencing and standard enclosures, with specific prohibitions against blocking utility access or obstructing motorist visibility. For properties within specialized areas, such as the Front Street Historic District, additional aesthetic and material guidelines apply.
Compiled From the Smyrna Municipal Zoning Ordinance (Article III), the Town of Smyrna Public Works Department Fence Application, and the Front Street Historic District Design Guidelines as of February 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Tennessee does not publish a statewide residential fence code. For properties located within the town limits of Smyrna, residential fence standards are administered by the Town of Smyrna Public Works Department and the Planning and Zoning Department.
Regulatory authority is established under the Town of Smyrna Municipal Zoning Ordinance, specifically Section 3.180. The Public Works Department manages the permit application process and infrastructure compliance, while the Planning Department oversees land-use requirements and historic district standards.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
A permit is required for the installation of residential fencing within the Town of Smyrna to ensure compliance with zoning and utility standards.
• Building Permit Threshold: A Building Permit is required for all accessory structures and any fence that exceeds seven (7) feet in height. Fences at or below this height are subject to the standard fence application process but do not require a separate structural building permit.
• Application Process: Property owners must submit a Fence Application Cover Sheet, a Fence Affidavit, and a detailed site plan to the Public Works Department. Construction must not commence prior to receipt of written notice of approval.
• Site Plan Requirement: The site plan must show the approximate location of the fence, dimensions, and the location of drainage easements, utility easements, and roadways.
• Swimming Pool Barriers: Fences used as pool barriers require a permit and must be inspected to verify compliance with the International Residential Code (IRC) safety standards.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property Boundaries: 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: No fence or decorative fence shall encroach upon a public utility or drainage easement without prior written approval of the Director of Utilities or the Town Engineer. Fences located in easements that prevent access to meters or infrastructure may be removed at the owner’s expense.
• Front Yard Setbacks: No encroachment on the front yard setback is allowed for standard fencing. On lots with multiple road frontages, this applies to the frontage the principal structure faces.
• Decorative Fencing: Decorative fences are allowed to encroach upon a front yard setback provided they do not encroach into the public right-of-way or violate visibility standards.
• 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 Fence Prohibition: The Smyrna Municipal Zoning Ordinance (Section 3.180.A) prohibits the encroachment of standard fences into the required front yard setback. On lots with multiple road frontages, this restriction applies to the frontage toward which the principal structure (the house) faces.
• Decorative Fence Exception: Decorative fences are permitted to encroach into a front yard setback (Section 3.180.D). To qualify for this exception, the structure must function as an architectural or landscape accent rather than a full enclosure.
• Corner Lot and Secondary Frontage: On any road frontage that the principal structure does not face (such as the side street of a corner lot), a fence is permitted to encroach into the setback provided it does not exceed the intersection visibility height of three and one-half (3.5) feet.
• Visibility Override: Regardless of whether a fence is classified as decorative or standard, no structure may be placed within the 75-foot intersection visibility zone if it exceeds a height of three and one-half (3.5) feet above the average grade of the street center lines.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Standard Materials: The town accepts common fencing materials including wood, vinyl, and chain link as indicated on official application forms.
• Historic District Restrictions: Properties within the Front Street Historic District must utilize materials compatible with the district’s character. Design guidelines prefer wood or decorative metal; metallic or fluorescent colors are prohibited.
• Maintenance: All fences must be maintained in a safe condition. The owner is responsible for ensuring all portions of the structure remain within property boundary limits.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
HOA requirements and private covenants operate independently from Town of Smyrna regulations. Private rules may impose fence height, material, placement, or approval requirements that are more restrictive than Town standards. Town approval or the lack of a building 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:
• Unapproved Construction: Commencing fence construction prior to receiving written notice of approval from the Town of Smyrna.
• Easement Obstruction: Installing a fence within a utility or drainage easement without written consent from the Town Engineer or Director of Utilities.
• Visibility Hazards: Placing a fence or wall within the 75-foot intersection visibility zone that exceeds the 3.5-foot height limit.
• Height Violations: Construction of a fence exceeding seven (7) feet in height without a Building Permit.
• Right-of-Way Encroachment: Placement of a fence or decorative fence within the public road right-of-way.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Smyrna, 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 the Town of Smyrna Public Works Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Smyrna staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.