Building a fence can be a costly undertaking if you do not look before you leap. 
Some people pay out a lot of money for expensive materials and labor costs only to find out that their new fence violates local regulations. Then they either have to modify it to comply or take it down completely and start again. If you have a home owners association then you will also need to read up on their rules because they are usually stricter than the government’s regulations. In the end they all break down into three key areas:
- Height – This is a major component of most fence regulations. A good rule of thumb is to keep your fence under 6.5 feet high. That height can vary depending on the state you are in and the material that your fence is made from so do your research before you build.
- Materials – Home owners associations are much more particular about the materials that you use because they want all of the houses to conform to the same style and even paint color. City regulations are generally looser and are more concerned with making sure that any front yard fences can be easily seen through.
- Distance – Most cities have a certain distance that a fence must be set back from the road especially if the house is on an intersection. The setback can range from 10 feet to 25 feet. This is done to allow the drivers on the road to have an unrestricted view of traffic on side streets and intersections.
