What Are the Laws in Georgia for Property Line Fencing?
As of 2015, Georgia does not have any specific laws defining or regulating boundary fences, but individual towns within the state may have relevant ordinances, states Nolo. The city planning or zoning department in each town enforces local ordinances.
While Georgia state law does not offer a specific definition for property line fencing, the general definition is a fence or natural barrier such as a hedge on or near the property line. Local rules typically restrict the height of backyard fences to 6 feet high and front yard fences to 4 feet high. Exceptions may apply when excessive noise or light is located near the property. Other regulations, such as neighborhood association rules or blighted property ordinances, apply when fences and other parts of the property are unsightly or in disrepair.
Georgia does have laws regarding possession. Court cases in the state have determined that a fence defines a property boundary even if it is outside the documented property line if neighbors do not contest the fence within seven years, according to Coleman, Chambers, Rogers & Williams, LLP, a Georgia law firm. This applies to natural boundaries, so a homeowner planting a tree past his or her property can change the line if uncontested. Homeowners can prevent such occurrences by proactively marking the property with wooden stakes.
