Do you need a permit for a fence in Charlotte?
Usually not a building permit: Charlotte lists fences among the work exempt from a building permit, with the conditions in its wording below1.
On this page
Usually not
Charlotte's rule“10. Fence and walls: permit not needed. Refer to UDO Article 17D.”1
City of Charlotte, CLT Development Center (Planning, Design & Development), p. 3, item 10
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Right-of-way permit | Fence or wall along a city street (no-cost certificate in lieu of a permit) | Per City Ordinance, any fence or wall constructed along a city street requires a no-cost certificate from the Charlotte Department of Transportation in lieu of a permit.2 |
| Right-of-way permit | Fence or wall within the public right-of-way | A fence or wall placed within the boundaries of the public right-of-way, shall require certification or an encroachment agreement from the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) for a city-maintained public right-of-way or the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for a state-maintained right-of-way.3 |
Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).
| Zoning rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum height in the front yard | 5 feet | A fence or wall located in the established front setback or setback along a frontage shall be limited to a maximum height of five feet above grade.3 |
| Maximum height in side and rear yards | 6 feet | A fence or wall located in the established side setback between the established front setback and established rear setback shall be limited to a maximum height of six feet above grade.3 |
What to submit
- CDOT Fence and Wall Certificate application with a drawing of the location2
Fence permit fees in Charlotte
Fee lines as Charlotte's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|
| CDOT Fence and Wall Certificate | no-cost2 |
All of Charlotte's fee lines are on the Charlotte permit page.
Special areas and extra reviews
- No fence in storm drainage easement that blocks runoff3
- No fence obstructing sight distance triangles3
Who to ask
Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA) Code Enforcement5
Building permits
- Website
- code.mecknc.gov4
- Apply online
- aca-prod.accela.com4
- Address
- 2145 Suttle Avenue, Charlotte, NC 282084
- Inspections
- Online via Mecklenburg County Accela Citizen Access (Permit & Inspections > Schedule an Inspection) or WebPermit sign-in4
Fence permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Charlotte with 18 other cities on the national fence permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- City of Charlotte Residential Permit Guidelines (PDF)City of Charlotte, CLT Development Center (Planning, Design & Development)Checked November 7, 2026
- Fence and Wall Certificates - City of CharlotteCity of Charlotte, Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT)Checked November 7, 2026
- Charlotte UDO Article 17. Accessory StructuresCity of Charlotte, Planning, Design & Development (Unified Development Ordinance, charlotteudo.org)Checked November 7, 2026
- WebPermit (B) - HomeMecklenburg County, Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA) Code EnforcementChecked November 7, 2026
- CLT Development Center - City of CharlotteCity of Charlotte, CLT Development Center (Planning, Design & Development)Checked November 6, 2026