Front-yard height limits
Front yards are capped lower than back yards almost everywhere, and a picket fence is built to fit under that cap.
- Decatur: residential front yards are limited to 4 feet, with posts allowed up to 18 inches above the fence. Decatur requires a fence permit.
- Madison: no fence permit since March 1, 2017. City staff reports describe a 4-foot limit for solid fences in front and corner-side setbacks, with more open fences allowed somewhat taller.
- City of Huntsville: no fence permit, but zoning limits front-yard fences lower than back-yard fences. Confirm with Planning at (256) 427-5100 before going over 4 feet out front.
- Unincorporated Madison County: a permit is needed only for fences over 7 feet; check height rules with the county inspection office.
The fence permits page lists the rules by jurisdiction. HOA covenants are often stricter than the city and may set style and color.
Wood, vinyl or aluminum pickets
Wood
The traditional picket: pressure-treated pine or cedar, dog-ear, pointed or flat tops, painted or stained. The cheapest to build at about $20–$50 per linear foot installed in national guides. It needs paint or stain to last in this climate, and posts should be ground-contact rated (AWPA UC4A or heavier) because Alabama is in the very heavy termite-probability zone. See wood fences and fence staining.
Vinyl
White vinyl picket is the classic look without painting, at about $30–$60 per linear foot installed nationally. It does not rot or feed termites. Panels come in fixed widths, so slopes are stepped. See vinyl fences.
Aluminum
Black aluminum pickets read as ornamental iron, at about $25–$75 per linear foot installed nationally. Common in subdivisions where covenants call for black metal facing the street. See aluminum fences.
Historic districts
A street-facing fence in a historic district needs approval before it is built. In the City of Huntsville, fences in the Huntsville Historic District need approval from the Historic Preservation Commission; Twickenham, with Federal and Greek Revival houses from around 1818, and Old Town are the best-known districts. Madison requires Historic Preservation Commission approval for fences in the City of Madison Historic District. A painted wood picket fence is the style these older houses were built with, but material, height and color still go through review, so allow time for it before scheduling.
Corner lots and which side faces out
- Visibility triangles: Decatur's ordinance bars fences from blocking a visibility triangle at intersections and from blocking view of or access to fire hydrants. Corner lots usually need the fence pulled back near the corner.
- Right-of-way: fences must sit on private property, outside the public right-of-way. The sidewalk edge is often not the property line; a survey or plat settles it.
- Finished side out: Decatur requires the more finished side of a fence to face outward. On a picket fence that means rails and posts on the inside.
- Gates onto a sidewalk: Decatur requires unattended gates and gates opening onto a public sidewalk to be self-closing, self-latching and locked when not in use. See fence gates.
Posts and ground for a short fence
A short fence still lives in red clay. Tennessee Valley soil is mostly red clay with a silt loam surface, often with chert, and the area gets a little over 54 inches of rain a year. A common post-depth rule is one-third to one-half of the above-ground height, deeper at gate and corner posts, with concrete crowned above grade so water runs off. Every job needs an Alabama 811 request at least two full working days before digging, and the yard should be marked in white paint first.
Getting quotes
Send the footage, material, height and whether the house is in a historic district or HOA through the contact page. The request goes to an independent local contractor, who quotes and contracts with you directly. Compare per-foot ranges on the fence cost page.
Main guide: fence companies in Huntsville, AL.