Wood FencesCedar and pine privacy, shadowbox, horizontal and picket fences built to fit your yard.See Wood Fences
Vinyl FencesLow-maintenance vinyl privacy fencing that never needs paint, stain or sealer.See Vinyl Fences
Aluminum FencesRust-free aluminum fencing for pools, front yards and decorative property lines.See Aluminum Fences
Commercial FencingAluminum, vinyl and wood fencing for offices, apartments, churches and job sites.See Commercial Fencing
Custom GatesDriveway, double and walk gates built to match your fence and swing true.See Custom Gates
Repair, Staining and RemovalFence repairs, gate fixes, staining and painting, and old fence tear-outs.See Repair, Staining and Removal
The crew comes out, measures the line and sends a written quote. No deposit to get on the schedule.
Get a Free Estimate (502) 431-3444Louisville Metro, the smaller cities inside Jefferson County and ten more counties each write their own fence rules. This page puts all 61 places Shatkoff Fencing serves side by side: the front-yard limit, the tallest fence allowed in back, the pool fence minimum and whether a typical 6 foot fence needs a permit. Every line comes from that place's own code.
Not for most fences. Louisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet tall, and for retaining walls over 4 feet. Apply online or at Construction Review, 444 South Fifth Street, (502) 574-3321. Cities inside Jefferson County can add their own step, and a preservation district adds design review.
In a Louisville Metro side or back yard, 8 feet for a solid fence at least 80% opaque and 6 feet for an open one such as aluminum or chain link; wrought iron can reach 8. Out front, 48 inches in suburban form districts and 42 inches in traditional ones.
Usually not a building permit under 7 feet: the Kentucky Residential Code exempts fences up to 7 feet, which is the line Louisville Metro uses too. Zoning still sets heights and placement and can add its own permit: Bullitt County wants a call for fences 6 feet and up, the Nelson County commission lists fences 5 feet and taller, and some cities want a permit for every fence, including Hurstbourne, Prospect, Goshen, Hillview, Radcliff, Vine Grove and Muldraugh.
Usually, yes. Jeffersonville, Clarksville, Sellersburg and New Albany all require one, and Clark County does outside agricultural land. Charlestown, rural Jefferson County and homes in Madison do not. In Georgetown, Hanover and rural Floyd County, ask the office named in the table below.
At least 4 feet across most of the area, with a gate that closes and latches by itself; Louisville Metro also wants it lockable. Charlestown, Georgetown, Sellersburg and rural Clark County ask for at least 5 feet.
Type a town or county to find it. Heights are the most each code allows; pool numbers are the least it accepts. Open the town's page for the reasons in the code's own terms and a yard tool that builds the tallest fence allowed.
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County (county rules) | 42 to 48 in | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftLouisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. Construction Review: (502) 574-3321. |
Louisville Metro Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Louisville | 42 to 48 in | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftLouisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. Construction Review: (502) 574-3321. |
Louisville Metro Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| St. Matthews | 4 ft | 7 ft | 7 ft | 4 ft | City letter firstSt. Matthews issues a Letter of Compliance first, and building permits come from Louisville Metro. City Hall: (502) 899-2512. |
St. Matthews Development Code, sections 9.1 and 9.2 |
| Highlands | 42 to 48 in | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftLouisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. Construction Review: (502) 574-3321. |
Louisville Metro Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Jeffersontown | 42 to 48 in | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Not right nowThe City of Jeffersontown says a fence permit is not currently required, but the fence still has to meet the city's height and placement rules. Planning and Zoning: (502) 267-8333. |
Jeffersontown Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Middletown | 42 to 48 in | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Ask the cityMiddletown writes its own zoning, so ask City Hall, (502) 245-2762, what your fence needs before it goes up. |
Middletown Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Anchorage | 4 ft | 7 ft | 7 ft | 4 ft | City reviewAnchorage's Zoning Officer reviews every fence, and the historic district and HOAs add their own approvals. City Hall: (502) 245-4654. |
Anchorage Development Code, section 9.1 |
| Prospect | Not allowed | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Yes, every fenceEvery fence or free-standing wall in Prospect needs a building permit from City Hall, 9200 US Highway 42. |
Prospect Code of Ordinances, chapter 152 |
| Lyndon | 42 to 48 in | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Ask the cityLyndon keeps its own zoning, so check with the city before the fence goes up. |
Lyndon Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Hurstbourne | 42 to 48 in | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Yes, every fenceHurstbourne requires a building permit for every new or rebuilt fence, with a surveyed plot plan and product information. |
Hurstbourne Ordinance 25-02, section 150.21(A)(4) |
| Douglass Hills | Not allowed | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | City letter firstA fence needs a Letter of Compliance signed by the City Engineer, which has to go with any Louisville Metro permit. |
Douglass Hills Code of Ordinances, section 70.100 |
| Fern Creek | 42 to 48 in | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftLouisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. Construction Review: (502) 574-3321. |
Louisville Metro Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Highview | 42 to 48 in | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftLouisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. Construction Review: (502) 574-3321. |
Louisville Metro Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Okolona | 4 ft | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftLouisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. Construction Review: (502) 574-3321. |
Louisville Metro Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Shively | Not allowed | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftA fence over 7 feet is a building-permit job in Louisville Metro; Shively's own code sets the heights. |
Shively Code of Ordinances, sections 96.46 to 96.48 |
| Pleasure Ridge Park | 4 ft | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftLouisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. Construction Review: (502) 574-3321. |
Louisville Metro Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Valley Station | 4 ft | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftLouisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. Construction Review: (502) 574-3321. |
Louisville Metro Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Fairdale | 42 to 48 in | 8 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftLouisville Metro requires a building permit only for fences over 7 feet, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. Construction Review: (502) 574-3321. |
Louisville Metro Land Development Code, section 4.4.3 |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oldham County (county rules) | 42 in | 7 ft | 7 ft | 4 ft | Ask the countyOldham County Planning & Development Services, (502) 222-1476, administers the zoning here and can confirm what your lot needs. |
Oldham County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 250-090 |
| La Grange | 42 in | 7 ft | 7 ft | 4 ft | Ask the countyOldham County Planning & Development Services, (502) 222-1476, handles zoning for La Grange; in a historic district every fence also needs Historic Districts Commission approval. |
Oldham County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, as adopted by La Grange |
| Crestwood | 42 in | 7 ft | 7 ft | 4 ft | Ask the countyOldham County Planning & Development Services, (502) 222-1476, administers the zoning here and can confirm what your lot needs. |
Oldham County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 250-090 |
| Pewee Valley | 42 in | 7 ft | 7 ft | 4 ft | Ask the countyOldham County Planning & Development Services, (502) 222-1476, administers the zoning here and can confirm what your lot needs. |
Oldham County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, as adopted by Pewee Valley |
| Goshen | Not allowed | 6 ft | 4 ft | 4 ft | Yes, every fenceThe city Architectural Control Committee approves every fence in writing, and a city building permit is required. City of Goshen: (502) 228-2377. |
City of Goshen Code of Ordinances, sections 150.20 and 150.21 |
| Buckner | 42 in | 7 ft | 7 ft | 4 ft | Ask the countyOldham County Planning & Development Services, (502) 222-1476, administers the zoning here and can confirm what your lot needs. |
Oldham County Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 250-090 |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullitt County (county rules) | 30 in | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | None under 6 ftBullitt County Planning & Zoning needs no permit for a fence under six feet; call (502) 543-6832 for anything taller, and past seven feet the county inspects. |
Bullitt County Zoning Regulations, Section 4.308 |
| Shepherdsville | 30 in | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | None under 6 ftBullitt County Planning & Zoning needs no permit for a fence under six feet; call (502) 543-6832 for anything taller, and past seven feet the county inspects. |
Bullitt County Zoning Regulations, Section 4.308 |
| Mount Washington | 30 in | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | None under 6 ftBullitt County needs no permit under six feet; the city building department, (502) 538-4216, handles building permits inside city limits, so call it to confirm. |
Mount Washington zoning (Bullitt County code, Section 4.308) |
| Hillview | 30 in | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Yes, city permitHillview has its own fence permit application: fence type, material, height and length, the house location plat, and an HOA letter where there is one. City Hall: (502) 957-5280. |
Bullitt County Zoning Regulations, Section 4.308 (used by Hillview) |
| Pioneer Village | 30 in | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | None under 6 ftBullitt County Planning & Zoning needs no permit for a fence under six feet; call (502) 543-6832 for anything taller, and past seven feet the county inspects. |
Bullitt County Zoning Regulations, Section 4.308 |
| Brooks | 30 in | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | None under 6 ftBullitt County Planning & Zoning needs no permit for a fence under six feet; call (502) 543-6832 for anything taller, and past seven feet the county inspects. |
Bullitt County Zoning Regulations, Section 4.308 |
| Lebanon Junction | 30 in | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | None under 6 ftBullitt County Planning & Zoning needs no permit for a fence under six feet; call (502) 543-6832 for anything taller, and past seven feet the county inspects. |
Bullitt County Zoning Regulations, Section 4.308 |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County (county rules) | 30 in if solid; open styles have no set limit | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftThe Kentucky Residential Code exempts fences up to 7 feet from a building permit, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. |
Shelby County Zoning Regulations, Article VIII, sections 810, 832 and 870 |
| Shelbyville | 30 in if solid; open styles have no set limit | 7 ft | 7 ft | 4 ft | Usually notThe Kentucky Residential Code exempts fences up to 7 feet from a building permit; historic district approval is separate. Triple S Planning: (502) 633-1718. |
Article VIII (secs. 810, 832, 870), Shelbyville Zoning Regulations |
| Simpsonville | No set limit; 36 in in a sight triangle | 7 ft | 7 ft | 4 ft | Zoning permit possibleSimpsonville requires a zoning permit before any structure is built, so call Triple S Planning, (502) 633-1718. No building permit is needed up to 7 feet. |
Simpsonville Zoning Ordinance (2024), sections 10.6 and 10.8 |
| Waddy | 30 in if solid; open styles have no set limit | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftThe Kentucky Residential Code exempts fences up to 7 feet from a building permit, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. |
Shelby County Zoning Regulations, Article VIII |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer County (county rules) | 4 ft on residential land | 8 ft | 8 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftThe Kentucky Residential Code exempts fences up to 7 feet from a building permit, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. |
Taylorsville-Spencer County Zoning Regulations, Article II, sections 204 and 205 |
| Taylorsville | 4 ft | 8 ft | 8 ft | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftThe Kentucky Residential Code exempts fences up to 7 feet from a building permit, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. |
Taylorsville-Spencer County Zoning Regulations, sections 204, 205 and 801 |
| Mount Eden | 4 ft on the Spencer side; 30 in if solid on the Shelby side | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftThe Kentucky Residential Code exempts fences up to 7 feet from a building permit, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. |
Spencer County zoning, sections 204 and 205 (Shelby side: Triple S) |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County (county rules) | No set limit; 30 in at a corner | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | Ask the countyHardin County requires zoning permits for accessory structures and pools; call the Planning and Development Commission, (270) 769-5479, to confirm for a fence. |
HCPDC Development Guidance System (county zoning) |
| Elizabethtown | 42 in, decorative only; up to 6 ft on a corner side street | 8 ft | 8 ft | 4 ft | Ask the cityElizabethtown takes fence questions at Planning and Development, City Hall, (270) 982-3266. |
Elizabethtown Code, section 154.231 |
| Radcliff | 5 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Yes, city permitRadcliff has a fence permit application with a sketch of the fence and its distance from every line and easement. Planning: (270) 351-1875. |
Radcliff Zoning Ordinance, section 3.12 |
| Vine Grove | Ask City Hall | Ask City Hall | Ask City Hall | 4 ft | Yes, city permitFence is a permit type on Vine Grove's building permit application. City Hall: (270) 877-2422. |
Hardin County code, outside city limits |
| Fort Knox | No set limit off post | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | Housing approvalOn post, residents file the Knox Hills improvements packet with a sketch and a dig permit; off post, Radcliff and Vine Grove issue their own fence permits. |
Hardin County Development Guidance System |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meade County (county rules) | No set limit outside the cities | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | Only over 7 ftThe Kentucky Residential Code exempts fences up to 7 feet from a building permit, so a standard 6-foot privacy fence needs none. |
Meade County Zoning Ordinance 920.00 |
| Brandenburg | 4 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Along a streetBrandenburg's Planning Commission approves the location, height and material of a front or side-yard fence along a street. |
Brandenburg Zoning Ordinance 393, sections 9.4 to 11.4 |
| Muldraugh | 4 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Yes, every fenceThe City of Muldraugh requires a building permit for every fence. |
Muldraugh Code, Title XV, sections 152.026 to 152.028 |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County (county rules) | No set limit | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | At 5 ft and upThe joint planning commission in Bardstown, (502) 348-1805, lists fences 5 feet and taller among projects that need a zoning compliance permit. |
Joint zoning regulations for Nelson County and its cities, 2026 |
| Bardstown | No set limit; 54 in in the historic district | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | At 5 ft and upThe joint planning commission in Bardstown, (502) 348-1805, lists fences 5 feet and taller among projects that need a zoning compliance permit. |
Bardstown historic design guidelines, section 1.5 |
| Bloomfield | No set limit | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | At 5 ft and upThe joint planning commission in Bardstown, (502) 348-1805, lists fences 5 feet and taller among projects that need a zoning compliance permit. |
Joint Nelson County zoning regulations, 2026 |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County (county rules) | 3 ft on residential lots | 6 ft | 6 ft | 5 ft | Yes, most landOutside the towns, Clark County requires an Improvement Location Permit for a fence unless the land is zoned agricultural. |
Clark County UDO, Ch. 3, Fences |
| Jeffersonville | 4 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Yes, city permitApply before the fence is built, through the Building Commission, (812) 285-6415. Finding the property line is the owner's job. |
Jeffersonville UDO, section 7.7 (FW-01) |
| Clarksville | 4 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Yes, city permitClarksville takes fence permits through its GovWell portal, with a site map; work starts after approval and the fee. |
Clarksville Fence Application Checklist, Sec. 157-70 |
| Sellersburg | 3 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 5 ft | Yes, town permitFences need an Improvement Location Permit from Planning and Zoning at Town Hall, (812) 246-3821. |
Sellersburg UDO, Ch. 3, Accessory Structure Standards |
| Charlestown | No set limit | 6 ft | 6 ft | 5 ft | NoCharlestown's 2016 ordinance lets a fence go in without an Improvement Location Permit; confirm with City Hall, (812) 256-3422. |
Charlestown Zoning Ordinance (2016), Ch. 3 |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd County (county rules) | 4 ft | 8 ft | 8 ft | 4 ft | Depends whereNew Albany charges $35 and wants a survey or site plan; Georgetown, call Town Hall at (812) 951-3012; the rest of the county, (812) 981-7611. |
Floyd County Zoning Ordinance, section 5.10 |
| New Albany | 42 in | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | Yes, $35The New Albany Plan Commission issues fence permits for $35 with a survey or site plan. (812) 948-5327. |
New Albany Zoning Ordinance, section 6.7 |
| Floyds Knobs | 4 ft | 8 ft | 8 ft | 4 ft | Ask the countyFloyd County Building and Development Services, (812) 981-7611, can tell you what your parcel needs. |
Floyd County Zoning Ordinance, section 5.10 |
| Georgetown | 3 ft | No height cap | No height cap | 5 ft | Ask Town HallGeorgetown has its own zoning; building permits are applied for at Town Hall, (812) 951-3012, and reviewed by Floyd County. |
Georgetown Zoning Ordinance, section 4.2 |
| Place | Front yard | Side and back, solid | Side and back, open | Pool fence, at least | Permit for a 6 ft fence | Rules from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County (county rules) | 6 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | NoThe county's development ordinance lists fences among structures that need no improvement location permit; Madison and Hanover set their own rules. |
Jefferson County UDO, Chapter 4, fences and walls |
| Madison | 4 ft | 6 ft | 6 ft | 4 ft | No, for a homeMadison exempts residential fences from a building permit; in the historic district a fence still needs a Certificate of Appropriateness. |
Madison UDO, section 4.8.G |
| Hanover | 3 ft | No height cap | No height cap | 4 ft | Ask the townThe town's building inspector, (812) 274-3929, handles fence and building questions. |
Hanover Code, section 155.045(D) |
Rules checked against each code in October 2026. Codes change, so every row links to the code it came from; confirm with the office named before you build. Deed restrictions and HOA rules can be stricter than any city.
A corner lot has two street sides, and in many codes the second one follows the front-yard limit. Most codes also keep a sight triangle at the intersection clear of anything taller than 2 to 3 feet.
Louisville Metro measures height from the lowest ground within a foot of either side of the fence, so a fence on a slope can measure taller than it looks.
Middletown, Anchorage, La Grange, Shelbyville and Madison review fences in their historic districts, and some want a Certificate of Appropriateness before a fence that can be seen from the street goes up.
Subdivision restrictions can be stricter than the city. Middletown's own code points owners to their deed, and Hillview asks for an HOA letter with the permit.
Finding the line is the owner's job. Jeffersonville says so in its fence rules, and the city does not verify it. Pins or a survey settle it before posts go in.
Kentucky 811 needs 2 to 10 full working days' notice before digging, and Indiana 811 at least two full working days. The call is free, and each utility marks its own lines.
Tell us where the property is, roughly how much footage you are fencing and where the gates go. The crew checks which rules cover your lot at the measure and sends a written quote. Nothing is due up front.
