FENCE RULES – WASHINGTON (PARISH), LOUISIANA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Washington Parish, subject to local regulations.
This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of Washington Parish; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Washington Parish does not publish a stand-alone residential fence chapter. The principal fence-related materials appear in the Washington Parish Development Ordinance, the parish Building Permits page, and the parish Permit Application. Those materials address permit administration, the parish permit fee schedule, and the parish definition of a fence, but they do not publish a separate residential fence article with yard-by-yard standards.
This page focuses on typical single-family residential fencing. If the jurisdiction’s adopted materials do not state a specific limit or requirement, this page notes that the code does not specify one.
Compiled From the Washington Parish Development Ordinance, the Licensing & Permits page, the Building Permits page, the Code Enforcement page, the Planning Commission page, and the parish Permit Application as of March 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The governing authority for the unincorporated areas of Washington Parish is the Washington Parish Council. The Washington Parish Planning Commission was created by Ordinance 06-379, and the Planning Commission page states that the Council retains authority to approve and enforce regulations recommended by the Commission.
The controlling land-use document is the Washington Parish Development Ordinance, formerly the Comprehensive Development Ordinance. That ordinance states that the Washington Parish Permit Office administers and interprets the ordinance. The parish Building Permits page and the parish Permit Application identify the parish permitting office as the Department Of Building And Permitting.
Washington Parish does not publish a consolidated residential fence code. For standard single-family residential lots, fence-related information appears instead in the ordinance’s permit fee schedule and fence definition, together with the parish permitting pages and application materials.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Height-Based Permit Schedule: The parish planning and building permit fee schedule lists fencing greater than 7 feet in height at $50.00 per lot. The same fee schedule lists noncommercial homeowner small jobs, including fences 7 feet tall or less, as “No Fee exempted.” T
• Fence Application Form: The parish Permit Application includes Fence as a permit category and is administered by the Department Of Building And Permitting.
• Floodplain Development: The Building Permits page states that Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance No. 09-507 requires a permit before construction, reconstruction, or development where that ordinance applies, and states that development permits are obtained from the Washington Parish Building and Permitting Department.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Washington Parish Permit Office before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Residential Placement Standards: The Washington Parish Development Ordinance does not publish a setback requirement for standard residential fences from property lines, and the code does not specify separate residential fence placement rules by yard.
• Public Right-of-Way: A permit from the Parish Director of Public Works is required for construction in any public right-of-way.
• Easements and Servitudes: The parish’s published materials reviewed for this page do not publish a residential fence rule addressing easement or servitude encroachment.
• Corner Lots, Gate Swing, and Drainage: The code does not specify separate residential fence rules for corner-lot placement, gate swing, or drainage clearance.
• Utility Safety: Louisiana’s Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law requires the person responsible for excavation or demolition to provide notice to the regional notification center (Louisiana 811) before digging. Notice must be provided at least two (2) full business days before the proposed commencement date of the excavation or demolition. Markings are considered valid up to 20 calendar days from the “mark-by” time, as long as the marks remain visible.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Maximum Height: The code does not specify a maximum height for standard residential fences.
• Visibility: The code does not specify a residential sight-triangle measurement, intersection visibility clearance, or separate corner-lot visibility limit for fences.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Residential Materials: The code does not specify permitted or prohibited materials for standard single-family residential fences.
• Fence Definition: The Washington Parish Development Ordinance defines a fence as an enclosure or barrier composed of wood, masonry, stone, wire, iron, or other materials, but that definition does not establish a separate residential material limit.
• Construction Details: The code does not specify a residential rule on opacity, finished-side orientation, or barbed-wire or electric-fence use for standard single-family residential fencing.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Homeowners association covenants, subdivision restrictions, and other private agreements operate independently of Washington Parish regulations and may be more restrictive than the parish’s published standards.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Height-Based Permit Review: Fence work greater than 7 feet in height without following the parish permitting process reflected in the planning and building permit fee schedule.
• Public Right-of-Way Construction: Construction in a public right-of-way without the required permit from the Parish Director of Public Works.
• Floodplain Development: Construction, reconstruction, or development in areas governed by Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance No. 09-507 without the required permit.
• Complaint-Based Review: The Washington Parish Permit Office may investigate written complaints alleging violations of the Washington Parish Development Ordinance.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Washington Parish, based on publicly available materials reviewed as of March 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Louisiana laws apply statewide. See Statewide fence laws in Louisiana.
It is not legal advice and does not replace official ordinances, permits, surveys, or professional guidance. Rules and interpretations may change, and application may vary based on zoning district, site conditions, easements, rights-of-way, and private restrictions such as HOA covenants. Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, confirm current requirements and any site-specific limitations with Washington Parish Permit Office and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Washington Parish staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.