Fence Material Rules by North Georgia City

Can I build a vinyl, wood or chain link fence in each city? It depends on the city. Sandy Springs bans new solid vinyl. Buford's residential rule calls for a black ornamental metal picket fence and says no wood. Duluth bans solid privacy fences in the required front yard. Suwanee allows only decorative fences in any yard that abuts a public street (including a front yard), with no chain link there. Roswell lists allowed materials and limits chain link. Several cities are silent, so confirm yours before you order.

Last updated: November 2026.

Five rules that catch people off guard

These are the firmest limits we found.

Sandy Springs: no new solid vinyl, and only black, white or earth-tone colors.
Buford: homes in residential zoning districts call for a black ornamental metal picket fence. The ordinance says no wood.
Duluth: no solid privacy fence in the required front yard.
Suwanee: any yard that abuts a public street (including a front yard) gets only decorative fences, and no chain link.
Roswell: a list of allowed materials, with chain link limited.

A city that is silent has not said yes, so ask first.

Cities with firm material rules

Sandy Springs. The Development Code (Section 8.3.10) says fences are wood and/or metal or ornamental metal. Solid vinyl is prohibited, though an existing vinyl fence may be replaced in kind. Chain link is allowed only in side and rear yards not parallel to a street, and it must be vinyl-coated. Barbed, razor and concertina wire are prohibited. Variances are not allowed for fence materials (Section 11.6.2). Vinyl is not on the wood-and-metal list, and we did not find a separate rule for vinyl picket or rail, so do not plan on any vinyl fence without the city's written answer. (Sandy Springs guide)

Buford. Section 700 of the Zoning Ordinance (January 2025 version) covers residential zoning districts. It calls for ornamental or decorative aluminized metal in a wrought iron picket style, black in color, and says no wood, woven wire or metal fabric. We did not confirm whether this applies to rear-yard fences, so ask the city. Screening is by landscaping only, and barbed wire and electric fences are not allowed. Vinyl is not named, so get the city's answer first. The only chain link we found is black chain link around approved stormwater facilities. (Buford guide)

Duluth. For homes, Section 304.02 says a fence in the required front yard may use natural wood, simulated wood, brick columns or decorative ornamental iron only, with pickets at least 2 inches apart. Solid panel or privacy fences are not allowed there. We found no materials list for side and rear yards and did not see chain link in the home fence section. Vinyl-coated chain link is listed in the nonresidential section (306.08). Vinyl is not named, so ask whether a wood-look product counts as simulated wood. (Duluth guide)

Suwanee. Section 610 allows only decorative fences or walls in a yard that abuts a public street, and none of woven wire or metal fabric, such as chain link, hog wire, barbed wire or razor wire. A decorative fence is defined as brick columns, wood, simulated wood, wrought iron, anodized aluminum or polyvinyl chloride, with pickets at least 2 inches apart. So a wood picket, anodized aluminum or PVC picket fence can fit the material rule along a street, within the height limits (generally 4 feet there, with some 6-foot exceptions). A solid board fence does not appear to, so ask. Away from the street, the section sets an 8-foot cap and lists no materials. We did not read Section 613 (design standards). (Suwanee guide)

Roswell. Section 10.2.10 lists wood, wrought iron, composite fencing, PVC (the plastic in a vinyl fence), aluminum and metal. Chain link, barbed wire and concertina wire are limited to a rear or side yard in the Corridors and Nodes or Employment districts, and none are allowed in the Historic Overlay District. Chain link is also allowed around a tennis court, community pool or sports field in residential, civic and recreational districts. For chain link on a home lot, ask the city first. (Roswell guide)

Gainesville. Section 13-1-9 bans exposed concrete block, tires, scrap and sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass sheeting, vinyl siding or fabric, plywood, pallet material and junk. In residential front yards the list is brick, stone, wood, stucco, wrought iron, split rail, vinyl plastic or chain link coated with black vinyl. Aluminum is not on it, so ask. For side and rear yards we found the banned list but no allowed list. (Gainesville guide)

Alpharetta. The Unified Development Code allows wood that is naturally durable or pressure treated, metal, brick, block, vinyl and stone, but not plywood or sheet goods. Privacy and chain-link fences are generally not allowed in a front yard. Along a public or private right-of-way they need the required landscape strip and plantings. (Alpharetta guide)

Johns Creek. The city's fence checklist (revised August 2025) says wire and plastic fencing, including chain link with plastic or wooden inserts, cannot be used next to a street right-of-way, except in the AG-1, M-1 and M-1A districts. A fence text amendment was on the Planning Commission's March 2026 agenda and we could not confirm its status, so check the current rule. Vinyl is a plastic, so ask before you plan it along a street. We did not find a rule against solid wood along a street in the checklist. (Johns Creek privacy fence guide)

Milton. Along an exterior street (a public or private street outside a subdivision or final plat), the code calls for an equestrian fence: treated or painted wood boards, split rail or composite board, up to 5 feet. Opaque fences and chain link are prohibited there, with a narrow exception for a hidden solid fence in a side or rear yard beyond the 60-foot rural viewshed. Aluminum, vinyl and steel are not named, so ask before you count on them. Wire fencing may not adjoin a street right-of-way, and barbed wire is not approved for a single-family lot. (Milton guide)

Cities with a partial list

Sugar Hill. Section 700 calls for durable, weatherproof materials such as wood, brick, stone and metal. Vinyl is not named. Barbed wire, razor wire, spikes, glass, tires and junk are not allowed in residential districts. Chain link or other woven wire along a street must be screened by landscaping, with the City Manager's approval, and galvanized chain link may be left unfinished. (Sugar Hill guide)

Marietta. Section 710.04 calls for durable materials such as wood, brick, stone, wrought iron or split rail, and the city's Fences page adds aluminum. In most districts (not LI, HI or PID), front-yard and major side-yard fences must be ornamental or decorative. The section mentions chain link only to exempt it from the finished-side rule where it is allowed, and we did not find where that is. Vinyl is not named. (Marietta guide)

Kennesaw. Section 6.13.01 says fences use solid, weather-resistant material, including wrought iron, wood and alternative materials, with architectural review. Chain link is allowed on commercial and residentially zoned property if it is not visible from the right-of-way. Barbed wire is not allowed on residentially zoned property. Vinyl and aluminum are not named, so ask if they count as alternative materials. (Kennesaw guide)

Flowery Branch. Section 11.6 asks for materials that fit the residential character of the lot and neighborhood, and bans exposed concrete block, tires and junk. Chain link in a front yard must be black vinyl-coated, and the coating is not required in side or rear yards. Barbed-wire strands are not permitted unless livestock is lawfully housed on the lot. Wood, aluminum and vinyl are not named. (Flowery Branch guide)

Cities where we did not find a materials list

In these five cities, the sections we read list no materials for home fences. That is not a yes, so ask the city and check your HOA.

Cumming: Section 113-243 covers the permit, height, right-of-way distance and barbed wire (HB and M-1 districts only). It has no materials, color or finished-side rule. (Cumming guide)
Woodstock: we did not find a general residential fence rule in the city's land development code or building chapter. Cherokee County's fence section (Sec. 5.7) applies to unincorporated Cherokee County, not inside the city limits. It covers sight lines, an 8-foot cap and a 6-foot limit next to a public road right-of-way inside the required setback, and the parts we read list no materials. Check whether your address is inside the city limits. (Woodstock guide)
Canton: the decorative or finished side faces outward. We found no materials list for homes. (Canton guide)
Dawsonville: Section 713 mentions barbed wire top strands only for commercial and industrial districts. We found no materials list or finished-side rule. (Dawsonville guide)
Acworth: Section 73-8.2 sets rules for barbed wire, spikes and electric charge devices (more than six feet above ground) and requires upkeep. We found no materials list. (Acworth guide)

Color and finished side

Color rules we found: Sandy Springs allows black, white or earth tones. Buford residential calls for black. Duluth's required front yard allows natural wood colors, neutrals such as white or cream, black or dark green wrought iron, or the house color. Sugar Hill lists natural wood colors, white, beige, ivory, cream, off-white, black or dark green. Alpharetta rules out bright or primary colors. Milton's equestrian fence is black, dark brown or white. Johns Creek's checklist rules out bright or primary colors, but only in its pool fence list. In the sections we read, we found no color rule in the other cities.

Finished side: Roswell, Milton and Johns Creek point it toward the neighbor. Sandy Springs points it toward the street and adjoining properties. Sugar Hill, Marietta, Acworth and Canton say exterior or outward. Kennesaw says toward the adjoining property and rights-of-way. Alpharetta says away from your own property. Gainesville wants both sides finished. Flowery Branch asks for a finished and attractive surface toward the street on front-yard fences, and we did not find a rule for side or rear yards. In the sections we read, we found no finished-side rule in Cumming, Dawsonville, Duluth, Suwanee, Buford or Woodstock.

Before you choose a material

Ask the city which materials and colors your lot allows, and whether your street side counts as a front yard.
Check your HOA. It can be stricter. We assist with HOA approval forms, and approval is always the HOA's decision. See our HOA fence rules guide.
Codes change. We read these in October and November 2026, so confirm the current text.

We look at your fence line, your survey and your HOA's guidelines before we give you a written estimate, and we tell you honestly if a style is likely to run into a rule. Before we dig, we call 811 for you, and crews mark the buried gas and power lines. See our wood privacy, vinyl, aluminum and chain link pages.

Common questions

Can I build a vinyl fence in Sandy Springs?

Not a new solid vinyl fence. The code prohibits solid vinyl fencing, though an existing vinyl fence may be replaced in kind. Variances are not allowed for fence materials. Wood and metal fences are allowed.

Can I build a wood fence in Buford?

Probably not at a home in a residential zoning district. The ordinance calls for ornamental metal in a black wrought iron picket style and says no wood. Ask the city about your zoning district.

Where is chain link limited?

In several places. Suwanee bars it in any yard that abuts a public street. Sandy Springs allows only vinyl-coated chain link in side and rear yards not parallel to a street. Roswell limits it to a few districts and uses. Milton bars it along exterior streets. Buford bars woven wire and metal fabric at homes, so ask whether that covers chain link. Flowery Branch and Gainesville allow only black vinyl-coated chain link in a front yard.

What can I build in my front yard in Duluth?

Natural wood, simulated wood, brick columns or decorative ornamental iron only, with pickets at least 2 inches apart. The limit is 4 feet, or 5 with the Planning and Development Director's approval. Solid panel or privacy fences are not allowed in the required front yard.

Which cities say nothing about fence materials?

In the sections we read, Cumming, Woodstock, Canton, Dawsonville and Acworth list no materials for home fences. Silence is not a yes, so confirm with the city and check your HOA.

Can I get a variance to use a different material?

Not always. Sandy Springs does not allow variances for fence materials. Kennesaw's variance section lists building height, lot width, driveway spacing, yard setbacks and parking or loading standards, and fence materials are not on that list. Ask your city planner.

Is aluminum allowed everywhere?

Often, but not everywhere. Roswell, Marietta, Suwanee, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs name aluminum or metal, and Buford's residential rule is built around ornamental metal. Gainesville's front-yard list, Duluth's home front-yard list and Milton's road-facing rule do not name aluminum, so ask first.

Fence Materials by City: Vinyl, Wood, Aluminum and Chain Link in North Georgia