Sandy Springs Fence Rules: Permit, Height

Do I need a permit for a fence in Sandy Springs? Yes. The City of Sandy Springs says a fence permit is required to install a new fence or gate or to replace an existing one, for homes and businesses. The code then sets a 4-foot limit for solid fences in front of the house, 8 feet elsewhere, a wood or metal materials rule, and a ban on new solid vinyl fencing. Apply through the city's online portal.

Last updated: November 2026.

Do you need a permit?

On its Fence Permits page, the City of Sandy Springs says a fence permit is required to install a new fence or gate, or to replace an existing fence or gate. Fence permits apply to both residential and commercial properties. If you are only swapping out an old fence or gate for a new one, that still counts, because replacing an existing fence or gate is on the city's list. Inspections are required for fences taller than 7 feet. A pool enclosure that is part of an approved pool permit does not need a separate fence permit, but it must meet the pool code (more on that below).

The city takes applications through its Online Permitting Portal. Contractors, property owners and their representatives can apply. Your application should include a site plan or survey showing where the fence will go, and details for every fence, gate and pier: height, design, materials, dimensions and color. The city's permitting hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and its main line is 770-730-5600. A city permit is also not the same thing as HOA approval. Your HOA decides that one.

Height limits

The fence rules are in Section 8.3.10 of the Development Code, "Fences and Walls." The height limits are:

Between the street and the front of the house: a solid or opaque fence or wall can be no more than 4 feet tall. A fence may go taller where it has a spaced picket design approved by the Director. The gap between pickets must be at least 2 inches, and the picket-to-opening ratio must be at least 2:1 for vertical pickets and 1:1 for horizontal elements.
Everywhere else, including side and rear yards: up to 8 feet above grade.

Height is measured from the finished grade to the highest point of the fence or wall between columns or posts. Columns and ornaments may exceed the maximum height by up to 3 feet. In plain terms, a solid 6-foot privacy fence fits the side and rear yards, and an open picket or ornamental style is the way to go across the front.

Placement, corners and landscape strips

Fence and wall footings must be entirely on your property and cannot cross a property line. The code also says fences, walls, hedges and other vegetation must not block the minimum sight distance and must not:

prohibit proper lines of sight for public safety and law enforcement,
impede the flow of water or the normal pattern of natural wildlife, or
impair or block a driver's vision so as to create a safety hazard.

For fences that run parallel to a street between the right-of-way and the building setback line, a fence or wall at least 6 feet tall needs a minimum 3-foot landscape strip between it and the street. In Residential Estate districts, street-facing fences must have masonry piers (brick, stone or stucco finish) between panels, at most about 24 feet apart, and at every change of direction. The section does not apply to IX- districts or stormwater facilities.

Materials, finished side and colors

This is where Sandy Springs stands out. The code says:

Materials: fences must be built of wood, metal or ornamental metal. Walls must be opaque brick, stone, stucco or another durable opaque material. Durable materials not on the list must be approved by the Director.
Vinyl: solid vinyl fencing is prohibited, except that existing vinyl fences may be replaced in kind.
Chain link: allowed only in side and rear yards, and not where it runs parallel to a street. It must be vinyl-coated.
Wire: barbed wire, razor wire and concertina wire are prohibited.
Finished side: fences and walls must be built with the finished side facing the street and adjoining properties, away from the property being enclosed.
Colors: only black, white or earth tones. Primary and neon colors are prohibited.
Electrical: a fence with electrical equipment needs an electric (building) permit.

So wood privacy fences and black aluminum fences fit the list. If you were hoping for a new vinyl fence in Sandy Springs, the code does not allow it, and a variance cannot change that, as explained below.

Gates

Gates, whether manual or electric, are allowed on individual properties. They must open inward, toward the property, and be at least 30 feet from the edge of pavement. Public and private streets cannot be gated. A gate can be up to 3 feet taller than the fence or wall it is attached to. Stand-alone gates, such as those on a private driveway, need masonry piers on either side, and a gate serving a private residential driveway must give emergency responders a way in that the fire marshal's office approves.

Pools and other approvals

Pool enclosures. They must meet the standards of the fence division and comply with the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. The city's fence permit page says pool enclosures that are part of a pool permit application must show compliance with Section 305 of that code and with other sections of the Development Code. See our pool fencing page.
Retaining walls. The fence section sends retaining walls to Section 9.4.3, so ask the city how it treats a fence on or near a wall.
HOA approval. It is separate from the city, and you may need both. We assist with HOA approval forms, and approval itself is always your HOA's decision. See our HOA fence approval guide.
Easements and property lines. Utility and drainage easements can limit where a fence can go. A survey is the best way to confirm your line.
Georgia 811. Before we dig, we call 811 for you, and crews mark the buried gas and power lines.

What this means for a typical Sandy Springs fence

Put the pieces together and a typical home looks like this:

A 6-foot wood privacy fence in the side and rear yards fits the 8-foot limit. Face the good side out toward the street and your neighbors, and stay on your side of the line.
Along the front, use an open style such as black aluminum, or a spaced picket design the Director approves, if you want more than 4 feet.
Pick black, white or an earth tone, and expect to describe the color in your permit application.
Plan gates to open inward and sit well back from the pavement.

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.

The variance route

If your lot does not fit the code, ask about a variance before you build. Under Section 11.6.2, variances are approved or denied by the Board of Appeals after a public hearing. The code lists things a variance cannot cover, and fence, wall and building materials are on that list. That means you cannot get a variance to build a solid vinyl fence, for example.

Where one is possible, the board only grants it when the conditions are unique to the property, an extraordinary hardship tied to its shape, size or topography would result, the request is the minimum necessary, and the conditions were not caused by the owner. Board decisions are final, with an appeal to the Fulton County Superior Court within 30 calendar days, and a denial bars resubmitting the application for one year. Rules change and every lot is different, so confirm the details for your yard with the city before you order materials.

Common questions

Does a fence need a permit in Sandy Springs?

Yes. The city says a fence permit is required to install a new fence or gate or replace an existing one, for residential and commercial properties. Inspections are required for fences taller than 7 feet. Apply through the city's online permitting portal.

How tall can a fence be in Sandy Springs?

A solid fence between the street and the front of the house can be no more than 4 feet, and a spaced picket design approved by the Director can go taller. Other residential fences, including side and rear yards, can be up to 8 feet above grade.

Can I install a vinyl fence in Sandy Springs?

Not a new solid vinyl fence. The code prohibits solid vinyl fencing, except that existing vinyl fences may be replaced in kind. Wood, metal and ornamental metal fences are allowed.

Can I use chain link in Sandy Springs?

Only in side and rear yards, not where it runs parallel to a street, and it must be vinyl-coated. Barbed, razor and concertina wire are prohibited.

What colors are allowed for a Sandy Springs fence?

Only black, white or earth tones. The code prohibits primary and neon colors. The finished side must face the street and adjoining properties.

Can a gate open toward the street in Sandy Springs?

No. Gates must open inwardly, toward the property, and be at least 30 feet from the edge of pavement. A gate on a private residential driveway also needs an emergency access plan approved by the fire marshal's office.

Can I get a variance for a fence in Sandy Springs?

Possibly for something like height, but not for materials. The code says variances are not allowed for fence, wall and building materials. Variances go to the Board of Appeals and need an extraordinary hardship tied to the lot.

Sandy Springs, GA Fence Rules: Permits, Height and Materials