FENCE RULES – NEW ALBANY (CITY), OHIO
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of New Albany, subject to local regulations.
Local fence rules appear primarily in Chapter 1175, Fences and Hedges, of the City of New Albany Planning and Zoning Code. Related requirements appear in the City’s residential permit materials, official zoning map, Urban Center Code, Design Guidelines and Requirements, floodplain materials, right-of-way procedures, private-pool provisions, and the Residential Code of Ohio.
This page focuses on typical single-family residential fencing. If the jurisdiction’s code, ordinance, or zoning-resolution materials do not state a specific limit or requirement, this page notes that the controlling regulatory text does not specify one. If no local code, ordinance, or zoning resolution is available in the approved source packet, this page notes that the jurisdiction does not publish the relevant standard in the referenced published materials.
Compiled From City of New Albany Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1175 Fences and Hedges, Chapter 1173 Swimming Pools, Chapter 1155 Floodplain Regulations, Chapter 907 Right-of-Way, City of New Albany Official Zoning Map, Urban Center Code, Design Guidelines and Requirements, Residential Permit Application and fee schedule, Permitting and Inspections materials, Right-of-Way materials, Ohio Board of Building Standards materials, Residential Code of Ohio, Ohio Revised Code Chapter 971, and OHIO811 materials as of July 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The City of New Albany regulates residential fences through its Planning and Zoning Code. The Community Development Department integrates planning and zoning, engineering, and building-code review. Chapter 1175 assigns fence zoning-permit applications to the Zoning Inspector.
The City of New Albany Community Development Department directly administers the 2019 Residential Code of Ohio for residential construction.
Every parcel in New Albany has a zoning designation shown on the official zoning map. Parcel-specific PUD, IPUD, text-overlay, approved-site-plan, or Urban Center conditions may affect a particular property. The Urban Center Code directs fencing and hedges to Chapter 1175, while the residential-relevant Design Guidelines and Requirements do not publish separate fence height, placement, or material limits.
The Community Development Department administers the City’s floodplain-permit process. The Public Service Department administers permits for work within public rights-of-way.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Zoning Permit: A zoning permit is required before constructing a fence or wall in a zoning district where residences are permitted. The City’s residential fee schedule lists a $30 zoning fee for fences.
• Application Materials: The application is submitted to the Zoning Inspector and must include a drawing to scale showing the lot and proposed fence location. The owner identifies the property lines and certifies that the fence will not encroach on adjoining property.
• Building-Code Approval Context: The City of New Albany Community Development Department administers the Residential Code of Ohio for City of New Albany. The Residential Code of Ohio includes an approval exemption for fences not over 6 feet high. City of New Albany does not publish a separate local building-permit requirement for standard residential fences in the referenced published materials.
• Pool-Barrier Context: A fence used as part of a regulated private swimming-pool enclosure is subject to the separate pool-barrier provisions and pool approval process, not only the ordinary yard-fence rules.
• Floodplain Review: Fence-related construction, grading, filling, or excavation within a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area is subject to the City’s floodplain determination and permit process. The floodplain application states that no covered work may begin until the permit is issued.
• Right-of-Way Work: Work performed within a public right-of-way requires the City’s right-of-way permit process. This process is separate from Chapter 1175, which keeps fences outside the street right-of-way setback area.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property-Line Setback: The ordinance does not state a setback requirement for standard residential fences from property lines; however, fences must be located entirely on the owner’s property and must not encroach into rights-of-way or easements.
• Owner Responsibility: The owner is responsible for identifying the property lines and certifying that the fence will not encroach on adjoining property. The zoning-permit drawing must show the lot and proposed fence location to scale.
• Street Right-of-Way: A fence may not be placed within 3 feet of a street right-of-way line.
• Street-Facing Area: Between the applicable building setback line and a line parallel to and 3 feet inward from the street right-of-way line, a fence remains subject to the 54-inch height limit and intersection-visibility requirements.
• Site-Specific Zoning: The official zoning map and the property’s approved PUD, IPUD, text overlay, Urban Center, or site-plan materials must be checked for conditions that apply to the parcel.
• Utility Safety: Ohio law requires notice through OHIO811 before excavation where Ohio’s underground utility protection law applies. For covered fence work involving digging, drilling, augering, boring, grading, or other excavation, notice must be given at least two working days, not including the day of notification, but not more than 16 calendar days before excavation begins. For an owner personally excavating at property containing one through four dwelling units or another property category covered by the statutory owner-excavator provision, the notice requirement does not apply unless excavation is planned in a utility easement, a public right-of-way, or an area where utility facilities are known to serve the property; an excavator employed by the owner must comply. OHIO811 is a notification center and does not mark lines itself; participating utilities or their locators mark covered facilities and provide positive-response information. This statewide utility-notice framework is separate from local fence permitting, zoning certificates, development approval, easement limits, right-of-way approvals, floodplain review, stormwater review, drainage review, road or county-engineer review, historic or design review, HOA restrictions, and other applicable requirements.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Street-Facing Height: A fence may not exceed 54 inches between the applicable building setback line and the line located 3 feet inward from the street right-of-way.
• Behind the Building Setback: A fence located behind the applicable building setback line may not exceed 72 inches in height.
• Intersection Visibility: No fence, hedge, or wall may be constructed or maintained in a manner that obstructs drivers approaching an intersection. A 25-foot clear-sight area must be maintained along either street approaching the intersection.
• Building-Code Height Context: The Residential Code of Ohio’s 6-foot approval exemption is building-code context. It is not a substitute for New Albany’s zoning permit, 54-inch street-facing limit, 72-inch limit behind the building setback, or visibility rule.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Fence and Wall Definition: Chapter 1175 covers fences and walls composed of wood, metal, stone, brick, or other material when used to enclose, partially enclose, divide, or partition premises. Hedges, plants, and trellises are included when placed to enclose or partition property.
• Electrically Charged Fences: Electrically charged fences are prohibited.
• Sharp Wire or Metal: Wire or metal fencing containing prongs, spikes, cutting points, or similar sharp features is prohibited.
• Agricultural Exception: The material prohibitions include an exception in the A District for fencing used to control livestock. This is an agricultural context, not a standard residential material allowance.
• Standards Not Specified: Chapter 1175 does not specify a finished-side orientation, an opacity percentage, or a limited list of permitted materials for standard residential fences.
• Pool Barriers: A fence serving as a regulated private pool barrier must also comply with the separate pool-enclosure requirements that apply to that use.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private restrictions operate independently from City of New Albany fence rules.
HOA covenants, deed restrictions, subdivision restrictions, private easements, architectural-review covenants, recorded agreements, conservation easements, and other private property restrictions may impose stricter limits than the City’s zoning, building-code, floodplain, or right-of-way requirements.
A City zoning permit does not replace any separately applicable HOA approval, covenant review, private easement restriction, boundary agreement, or other private approval.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Zoning Permit: Construction of a fence or wall without the required zoning permit.
• Approved Drawing: Fence placement that does not match the lot and fence location shown on the approved scaled drawing.
• Height and Location: Fences exceeding the 54-inch street-facing limit or the 72-inch limit behind the building setback, or fences located within 3 feet of a street right-of-way.
• Visibility: Fences, hedges, or walls that obstruct drivers or conflict with the 25-foot clear-sight area at an intersection.
• Materials: Electrically charged fencing or prohibited wire or metal fencing with prongs, spikes, cutting points, or similar sharp features.
• Property Lines and Rights-of-Way: Encroachment onto adjoining property, into an easement, or into the street right-of-way setback area.
• Site-Specific Conditions: Parcel-specific PUD, IPUD, text-overlay, Urban Center, approved-site-plan, floodplain, right-of-way, or private-pool-barrier conditions where those layers apply.
• Building-Code Context: The Residential Code of Ohio approval exemption for fences not over 6 feet remains separate from local zoning and other site-specific requirements.
• Utility Safety: Covered fence-post excavation or other digging that does not follow OHIO811 notice and positive-response requirements.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of New Albany, based on the referenced published materials as of July 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Ohio laws apply statewide. See Statewide Fence Laws in Ohio.
It is not legal advice and does not replace official ordinances, zoning resolutions, permits, zoning certificates, development approvals, applicable building-code requirements, surveys, or professional guidance. Rules and interpretations may change, and application may vary based on zoning district, site conditions, easements, rights-of-way, floodplain status, restricted-floodway or stream conditions, stormwater requirements, drainage conditions, road or highway conditions, county-engineer jurisdiction, railroad adjacency, historic district status, design-review status, rural or agricultural context, livestock, partition-fence or preferred-partition-fence context, certified residential building-department status, contracted administration, pool-barrier use, OHIO811 utility-safety requirements, utility-clearance conditions, and private restrictions such as HOA covenants, deed restrictions, private agreements, recorded partition-fence agreements, or conservation easements. Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, confirm current requirements and any site-specific limitations with the City of New Albany Community Development Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, zoning resolutions, published guidance, or direction from City of New Albany Community Development Department staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.