FENCE RULES – JEFFERSON (PARISH), LOUISIANA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Jefferson Parish, subject to local regulations.
This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of Jefferson Parish; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Residential fence rules in Jefferson Parish are not located in a single stand-alone fence code. Core rules appear in Sec. 8-49 (Fences) of the Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances, the parish zoning rules in Sec. 40-743.5 (Regulations for fences), and the visibility rules in Sec. 40-665 (Clear vision areas), together with official parish permit and planning materials.
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 Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances, Jefferson Parish Building Permits materials, Building Permits Forms materials, Code Compliance & Enforcement materials, Planning materials, Old Metairie Commission materials, Floodplain Management & Hazard Mitigation materials, and Jefferson Parish FAQ materials as of March 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Jefferson Parish regulates residential fences in the unincorporated parish through the Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances and the parish’s current permit and planning administration.
The principal parish offices appearing in the adopted materials for residential fence review are the Department of Building Permits, the Jefferson Parish Planning Department, the Department of Code Compliance and Enforcement, the Department of Public Works, and, where applicable, the Old Metairie Commission.
Jefferson Parish does not publish a single consolidated residential fence chapter that answers every question in one place. Fence rules are distributed across the building regulations, zoning regulations, visibility regulations, and overlay-district review materials.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: A building permit is required to erect or replace a standard residential fence.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Jefferson Parish Planning Department before construction.
• Front Yard Variance: A front yard fence is not allowed unless a variance is granted by the Board of Zoning Adjustments.
• Old Metairie Review: In the Old Metairie Neighborhood Conservation District, applicable front-yard and corner-side-yard fence work is subject to the district’s overlay review structure through the Old Metairie Commission and the parish decision-making process identified in the code.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property Lines / Rights-of-Way / Servitudes: 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.
• Front Yards: A front yard may not be fenced or otherwise enclosed unless a variance is granted by the Board of Zoning Adjustments.
• Side and Rear Yards: Standard residential fences may be erected along lot lines in side and rear yard locations, subject to the code’s height, visibility, and construction rules.
• Sidewalk Clearance: Fences must be set back at least 1 foot from sidewalks.
• Street or Sidewalk Encroachment: No fence may be placed closer to a street or sidewalk than the property line without prior approval from the Department of Public Works.
• Gate Swing: Gates, when fully open, may not extend into or over sidewalks or other portions of the public right-of-way without prior approval from the Department of Public Works.
• Drainage: A fence may not prevent proper drainage of a lot.
• Through Lots and Corner Side Yards: On certain lots with frontage on major or minor arterial or collector streets, fence placement in the yard adjoining that street is subject to code conditions and approval. In the Old Metairie Neighborhood Conservation District, a fence in the corner side yard is subject to the same requirements as a fence in the front yard.
• 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
• Side and Rear Yard Height: Standard residential fences in side and rear yard locations may be up to 8 feet high.
• Front Yard Height: Where a front-yard fence is approved by variance, any portion above 3 feet must meet the code’s open-fence standard.
• Living Fences in Front Yard: A living fence in the front yard may not exceed 3 feet in height.
• Architectural Features: Fence columns, posts, archways, gates, caps, and similar decorative elements used with a fence may not exceed 8.5 feet in height.
• Front Yard Fence Columns: Where a front-yard fence is approved, fence columns may be no more than 18 inches in width, depth, or diameter and must be spaced at least 5 feet on center.
• Sloping Grades: On sloping grades, fence height may be averaged across stepped 6-foot segments so the fence can follow the slope, but no portion of the fence may exceed 9 feet.
• Sight Visibility: Required clear vision areas must remain free of visual obstruction. On residential lots, no fence, wall, planting, or similar obstruction may exceed 3 feet above established street grade within the clear vision area.
• Residential Clear Vision Measurements: The code identifies clear vision measurements of 25 feet at street intersections, 10 feet at access-way intersections, and 15 feet on reverse corner lots developed with one-, two-, three-, or four-family dwellings.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Street-Facing Fence Components: Along street rights-of-way, except along freeways and interstates as defined by the Jefferson Parish Thoroughfare Plan, nondecorative posts, horizontal posts, cross-members, and similar unfinished fence components must face inward toward the lot.
• Front Yard Open Design: Where a front-yard fence is approved, the portion above 3 feet must comply with the code’s open-fence requirement.
• Old Metairie Front Yard Materials: In the Old Metairie Neighborhood Conservation District, front-yard fences must maintain an open design and be made of durable material. Wood and metal picket fences may be used with low masonry walls if the masonry portion does not exceed 3 feet in height. Chain-link fencing is not permitted in the front yard.
• Parish-Wide Approved Materials: The municipal code does not specify parish-wide permitted or prohibited materials for standard residential fences beyond the construction and orientation rules stated above.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
HOA covenants, subdivision restrictions, and private servitudes operate independently from parish regulations and may be more restrictive than Jefferson Parish 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: Whether a required building permit was obtained for erecting or replacing a fence.
• Zoning Review: Whether a fence is placed in a front yard without the required variance, exceeds the applicable height limit, or conflicts with visibility rules.
• Public Works Review: Whether a fence, gate, or related structure extends into a sidewalk or public right-of-way, or is placed closer to a street or sidewalk than the property line without required approval.
• Visibility Review: Whether a fence obstructs a required clear vision area at a corner, reverse corner lot, or access-way.
• Drainage Review: Whether a fence blocks required lot drainage.
• Overlay Review: Whether a fence in the Old Metairie Neighborhood Conservation District is subject to overlay review and meets the district’s front-yard or corner-side-yard standards.
• Complaint-Based Enforcement: Complaints concerning fence encroachment, placement, visibility, drainage, or related property conditions may be investigated by Department of Code Compliance and Enforcement.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Jefferson 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 Department of Building Permits and the Jefferson Parish Planning Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Jefferson Parish staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.