FENCE RULES – HOUMA (CITY), LOUISIANA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Houma, subject to local regulations.
The City of Houma continues as a legal entity, but planning, zoning, and permit administration are carried out through the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government. For standard residential fencing, the main published rules appear in Chapter 28, Zoning of the Terrebonne Parish Code of Ordinances, with additional city-specific historic district approval rules in Chapter 20, Planning.
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 Chapter 28 Zoning and Chapter 20 Planning of the Terrebonne Parish Code of Ordinances, the Planning and Zoning Department page, the Permits page, the Building Permits page, and the Zoning page, as of March 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The City of Houma is administered through the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, and current planning, zoning, and permitting functions are handled by the Planning and Zoning Department.
The principal ordinance source for standard residential fence location, height, and visibility rules is Chapter 28, Zoning of the Terrebonne Parish Code of Ordinances. For properties within the Local Houma Historic District, approval rules affecting fences and boundary walls also appear in Chapter 20, Planning.
City of Houma does not publish a single stand-alone residential fence chapter; the applicable rules are distributed across zoning supplementary regulations, historic district provisions, and current departmental guidance.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: A building permit is required for the construction of a residential fence or wall.
• Historic District Approval: Within the Local Houma Historic District, and for designated local sites where applicable, a certificate of appropriateness is required before a fence or boundary wall is erected, altered, restored, moved, or demolished.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Planning and Zoning Department before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
The ordinance does not state a setback requirement for standard residential fences from property lines; however, fences must be located entirely on the owner’s property and must not encroach into rights-of-way or easements or servitudes.
• Corner Lots: On a corner building site, the side yard along the intersecting street is subject to a corner-lot side yard requirement. Current public zoning guidance states this side yard as 15 feet for most residential lots.
• R-1 Exception: For R-1 lots in subdivisions approved after November 19, 2014, the required corner-lot side yard on the intersecting street is 20 feet.
• 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
• Front Yard Height: A fence or wall in a required front yard may not exceed 4 feet in height.
• Side and Rear Yard Height: A fence or wall in a required side or rear yard may not exceed 8 feet in height.
• Minimum Height: The code does not specify a minimum fence height for standard single-family residential fences.
• Corner Visibility Triangle: On a corner building site in any district where a front yard is required, no fence, wall, hedge, or other structure or planting more than 3 feet in height may be erected, placed, or maintained within the triangular area formed by the intersecting street lines and a straight line connecting those street lines at points 30 feet from the intersection.
• Driveway Visibility: No fence or wall more than 3 feet in height may be erected or altered so as to prevent a clear, unobstructed view of approaching traffic for the driver of a vehicle within 15 feet of the driveway’s street line.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
The code does not specify permitted or prohibited materials for standard single-family residential fences.
The code does not specify an opacity requirement for standard single-family residential fences.
Within the Local Houma Historic District, fence and boundary wall appearance is subject to certificate of appropriateness review.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Homeowners’ association rules, restrictive covenants, servitudes, and similar private agreements operate independently of city rules and may be more restrictive than local code requirements.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Permit Review: Construction of a fence or wall without the required building permit.
• Historic District Review: Work on a fence or boundary wall within the Local Houma Historic District without the required certificate of appropriateness.
• Height Review: A front-yard fence or wall exceeding 4 feet, or a side or rear yard fence or wall exceeding 8 feet.
• Corner Lot Review: Fence placement that conflicts with the corner-lot side yard condition, including the 15-foot standard and the 20-foot R-1 exception where applicable.
• Visibility Review: A fence or wall placed so that it obstructs the required corner visibility triangle or driveway sight line.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Houma, 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 Planning and Zoning Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Houma staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.