Rules at a glance
| Jurisdiction | Fence permit? | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| City of Huntsville | No permit for fences; historic districts need commission approval | Planning (256) 427-5100; Traffic Engineer (256) 427-5300 |
| City of Madison | No fence permits since March 1, 2017; historic district needs approval | Madison Building Department |
| Unincorporated Madison County | Fences over 7 ft need plans and a residential permit | County Inspection (256) 746-2950 |
| City of Decatur | Yes, fence permit application required | Building Department (256) 341-4570 |
| Athens, Hartselle, Trinity and other towns | Not confirmed; call first | City or town building department; Trinity Town Hall (256) 353-2474 |
Your address decides which column applies. Hampton Cove, Moores Mill, Harvest and other unincorporated areas have Huntsville or Madison mailing addresses but county rules, and parts of Madison sit in Limestone County. Check the jurisdiction on your property tax bill.
Inside the two biggest cities
Huntsville
The city's residential construction FAQ states that fences do not require a permit. Two exceptions still apply. Fences in a local historic district, such as Twickenham or Old Town, need approval from the Historic Preservation Commission. And zoning still sets height limits, which are lower in front yards than in back. Published summaries of those limits conflict, so confirm with Planning before building over 6 feet or putting a solid fence forward of the house. Fence questions in sight lines go to the City Traffic Engineer.
Madison
Madison's Permitting Division stopped issuing fence permits effective March 1, 2017. A fence in the City of Madison Historic District still needs Historic Preservation Commission approval. The city also warns that a fence built in an easement may be removed, without replacement, if the city needs access. 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; see the Madison fence page.
Unincorporated Madison County
Outside city limits, the Madison County Inspection Department covers residential construction. Its published residential rules require building plans and a permit for fences over 7 feet tall. Ordinary backyard fences fall under that height, but confirm with the county before building tall, near a road, or in a flood zone. The county adopted the 2018 ISPSC, which requires a pool barrier at least 48 inches high. This applies in places such as Harvest, Meridianville, Moores Mill, Toney and Brownsboro.
City of Decatur
Decatur is the one major city in the area that requires a fence permit. Its zoning ordinance, Section 25-5.5 Fence and Wall Standards, is detailed:
- Height: in non-industrial districts, 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side yards along a street and in rear or interior side yards. Posts may extend up to 18 inches above the fence.
- Placement: outside the public right-of-way; allowed on the property line and in setbacks. Fences in a utility easement need written authorization from the easement holder or the city.
- Clearances: no blocking drainage, fire hydrant access, visibility triangles or required window and door access.
- Materials allowed: masonry, treated or rot-resistant wood, ornamental iron, welded steel, black aluminum, vinyl, composite and chain link.
- Prohibited: barbed or razor wire (with limited exceptions), chicken wire, sheet metal, plywood and pallets, and above-ground electric fence except for livestock in agricultural districts. Buried pet fences are allowed.
- Finish and gates: the finished side faces out; unattended gates and gates onto a public sidewalk must self-close, self-latch and lock.
More on local projects is on the Decatur fence page.
Rules that apply everywhere
Alabama 811
State law requires notice to Alabama 811 at least two full working days before digging, not counting the day of notice, for homeowners as well as contractors. Mark the fence line in white paint and hand-dig within 18 inches of the utility marks.
Pool barriers
CPSC guidelines call for a barrier at least 48 inches high measured outside, openings that will not pass a 4-inch sphere, gates that open outward, and a latch release at least 54 inches high when reached from outside. See pool fences.
HOA covenants and easements
Subdivision covenants often set height, style, color and which side faces out, and are frequently stricter than the city. Get architectural approval in writing. Check your plat for drainage and utility easements; in both Madison and Decatur, a fence removed for easement access is not the city's to repair.
Contractor licensing for larger jobs
Alabama's Home Builders Licensure Board covers residential improvement work over $10,000. Fences are not named in the statute, so whether a large fence job needs an HBLB license is not settled. Residential improvement work over $10,000 may require an HBLB license; ask the contractor and check hblb.alabama.gov. Our cost guide shows how quickly long runs of privacy fence can pass that figure.
Main guide: fence companies in Huntsville, AL.