FENCE RULES – MANDEVILLE (CITY), LOUISIANA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Mandeville, subject to local regulations.
The City of Mandeville Comprehensive Land Use Regulations Ordinance regulates residential fences primarily through Article 5, Building Codes and Permitting Requirements, Section 8.1.3, Supplemental Fence and Wall Regulations, and Section 8.1.1.8, Sight Triangles Required. Additional location-based review appears in Section 7.6.4, Historic Preservation District, and Article 8.3, Flood Damage Prevention Regulations.
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.
Within the Mandeville Historic Preservation District, additional review and design standards apply to fence work covered by the district materials. For properties in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the city also publishes a local floodplain permit requirement for development in those areas.
Compiled From the City of Mandeville Comprehensive Land Use Regulations Ordinance, Building Permit Information, Planning, Zoning and Land Use Information, Flood Protection, Historic Preservation District Commission materials, the Historic Preservation District Design Guidelines, and the HPDC COA Application + Toolkit as of March 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Residential fence administration in City of Mandeville is centered in the Department of Planning and Development.
The principal fence standards for typical residential lots appear in the City of Mandeville Comprehensive Land Use Regulations Ordinance, especially Article 5 for permit requirements, Section 8.1.3 for fence and wall standards, Section 8.1.1.8 for sight triangles, and Article 8.3 for floodplain permitting. Historic district review is addressed through Section 7.6.4 and the city’s Historic Preservation District materials.
Under the CLURO, the Building Inspector administers permit review, and the Building Inspector also serves as the Floodplain Administrator for floodplain permitting. The Planning and Zoning Commission and the Historic Preservation District Commission are part of the broader land use and historic review framework published by the city.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Permit Required: Article 5.4.5 of the CLURO requires a permit application for residential accessory uses on single- and two-family residential developments, and that section specifically lists fences.
• Application Materials: For the listed residential accessory work, the CLURO calls for a boundary survey showing existing structures, a site plan showing existing and proposed structures and other site features in relation to property lines, and drawings or other information required by the Building Inspector, Director of Public Works, or Planning Director to describe the work.
• No Published Height Exemption: The city’s published permit materials do not state that fences below any specific height are exempt from permit requirements.
• Historic Preservation District: Fence work within the Mandeville Historic Preservation District is subject to the city’s Certificate of Appropriateness process where district review applies. The city’s HPDC materials state that no building permit will be issued for the proposed work until the Historic Preservation District Commission has issued the certificate.
• Special Flood Hazard Area: The city’s published floodplain materials state that a local permit is required for development located within a Special Flood Hazard Area, and Article 8.3 establishes a Floodplain Development Permit for development in those areas.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with Department of Planning and Development before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property Lines: 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.
• Required Setback Areas: The CLURO regulates fences located between the front of a structure and the front property line, and also regulates fences in required side or rear yards that front on a street.
• Street Intersections: Any fence or wall located on a street intersection must comply with the city’s sight triangle requirements.
• Utility Servitudes: No fence or wall may be constructed within a utility servitude without prior written approval of the affected utilities. The utilities may withhold approval if the fence location or size would adversely affect the servitude, and utility approval does not obligate the utility to repair or replace a fence later damaged or removed during lawful use of the servitude.
• 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 Area: Except for the decorative-wrought-iron exception below, no fence or wall may exceed 4 feet in height if it is located between the front of a structure and the front property line.
• Decorative Wrought Iron and Similar Materials: Decorative wrought iron fences may be allowed within required front setbacks and within required side and rear setbacks facing streets if they do not exceed 5.5 feet in height. Supporting columns may not exceed 6.5 feet in height. Fence components higher than 2 feet above grade may be no more than 15 percent opaque. The Planning Director may approve other materials with a substantially similar appearance to wrought iron if they are at least as durable.
• Rear and Side Yards: Fences or walls located in rear or side yards may not exceed 7 feet in height.
• Street-Facing Side or Rear Yards: No fence or wall exceeding 4 feet in height may be erected within a required side or rear yard fronting a street, except under the decorative-wrought-iron rule above.
• Height Measurement: Fence height is measured from average grade to the tallest component of the fence. Gates and lighting on top of support columns are excluded from this measurement if the support columns do not exceed 7.5 feet in height.
• Sight Triangles: Sight visibility triangles must remain free of visual obstructions between 3 feet and 7 feet above street grade. Within those areas, no building, fence, wall, hedge, other structure, or planting more than 3 feet in height may be erected, placed, or maintained, except posts, columns, or trees separated by at least 6 feet from each other.
• Sight Triangle Dimensions: The CLURO provides specific triangle dimensions by intersection type, including 25 feet by 25 feet for intersections of two arterials, 25 feet by 20 feet for arterial and collector or local street intersections, 15 feet by 25 feet overlapping triangles for other street intersections, and 25 feet by 15 feet for intersections of alleys or driveways with streets.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Citywide Material Limits: Outside the historic district guidance discussed below, the CLURO does not publish a general citywide list of permitted residential fence materials. It does, however, allow decorative wrought iron in the locations and dimensions stated above, and it allows the Planning Director to approve other materials with a substantially similar appearance and durability for that same decorative-fence category.
• Electrical Fences: Electrical fences are prohibited in any form.
• Barbed Wire: For standard residential fencing, barbed wire is prohibited. The ordinance allows it only in B-2, B-4, M-1, or M-2 districts, and only on portions of fences located higher than 6 feet above ground.
• Historic Preservation District Materials: Within the Mandeville Historic Preservation District, the design guidelines state that historic metal and wood fences and walls should be preserved, and that new fences and walls should use traditional or similar materials that blend with the historic setting. The same guidelines state that vinyl and similar synthetic fencing materials are incompatible and not approvable.
• Historic Preservation District Fence Types: Within the Mandeville Historic Preservation District, the design guidelines state that new front-yard wood fences may not exceed 4 feet in height, and that front-yard fences are recommended to be wood, wrought iron, metal garden, or metal picket. The same guidelines state that chain link fences are permitted on side and rear yards, and that wood privacy fences may be installed in back yards up to 7 feet in height.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Homeowners association covenants, subdivision restrictions, and other private agreements operate independently of City of Mandeville regulations and may be more restrictive than the city’s published fence 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:
• Permit Compliance: Beginning fence construction without the required city permit.
• Historic District Review: Beginning covered fence work in the Mandeville Historic Preservation District without first obtaining a required Certificate of Appropriateness.
• Floodplain Review: Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area without the required local floodplain permit where Article 8.3 applies.
• Height Violations: Installing a fence that exceeds the published 4-foot, 5.5-foot, or 7-foot limits that apply by location.
• Visibility Obstructions: Placing a fence at a street intersection in a way that violates the city’s sight triangle standards.
• Utility Servitude Encroachment: Constructing a fence within a utility servitude without prior written approval from the affected utilities.
• Prohibited Fence Types: Installing an electrical fence or barbed wire where the ordinance does not allow it.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Mandeville, 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 Planning and Development and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Mandeville staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.