Madison's fence rules
- No fence permit. Madison's Permitting Division stopped issuing fence permits effective March 1, 2017.
- Historic District. A fence in the City of Madison Historic District still needs approval from the Historic Preservation Commission.
- Easements. The city's FAQ warns that a fence in an easement may be removed by the city, without replacement, if it needs access for lawful purposes. Check your plat for drainage or utility easements before fencing the back line.
- Heights. City staff reports describe a 4-foot limit for solid fences in front and corner-side setbacks and 6 feet in rear and interior side yards, with somewhat taller front fences allowed when mostly open. Confirm with the Building Department before building tall or solid toward the street.
Subdivision covenants come first
Madison had 4,057 residents in 1980 and 42,938 by 2010, so most of its homes are in subdivisions built in the last forty years, and many of those have covenants that set fence height, style, material and color, and require architectural review before work. In practice the HOA is usually the stricter rulebook. Typical outcomes: a 6-foot privacy fence in wood or vinyl in back, stained to an approved color, and black aluminum where a fence faces a street, pond or common area.
Two counties, one city
Madison extends into Limestone County, and some unincorporated pockets sit inside and along its borders. Your address, not your mailing city, decides which rules apply. If the property tax bill says Limestone County or the lot is outside city limits, ask the contractor to confirm jurisdiction before assuming Madison's no-permit rule.
What Madison fence jobs look like
- Backyard privacy fences on subdivision lots, built to the HOA's approved style.
- Pool enclosures, which follow the 48-inch barrier and self-closing gate rules; see pool fences.
- Replacement of first-generation builder fences as 1990s and 2000s subdivisions age; see fence replacement.
- Dog-yard chain link in black vinyl coating where covenants allow it.
Every job needs an Alabama 811 request at least two full working days before digging.
How the referral works
Send a request through the contact page with your Madison address area, fence type and rough footage. We pass it to an independent fence contractor who works in Madison. They measure, quote in writing and, if you hire them, you deal with and pay them directly.
Main guide: fence companies in Huntsville, AL.