FENCE RULES – ST. MARY (PARISH), LOUISIANA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within St. Mary Parish, subject to local regulations.
This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of St. Mary Parish; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Residential fence standards in unincorporated St. Mary Parish appear in multiple parts of the Unified Development Code, including the residential fence section, site-distance rules, servitude rules, and nonconformity provisions. The code also allows certain approved Pattern Books in specific residential developments to establish fence and garden wall standards that differ from the default fence section.
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 St. Mary Parish Planning & Zoning Department page and the St. Mary Parish Unified Development Code provisions for Sec. 2.2.2, Sec. 3.6.6, Sec. 3.2.10, Sec. 6.2.2, and Sec. 5.4.10, as of March 2026.
GOVERNANCE
• Governing Authority: The Planning & Zoning Department administers land use and development regulations for unincorporated St. Mary Parish.
• Controlling Documents: Residential fence rules appear in the Unified Development Code, including Sec. 2.2.2 Fences, Sec. 3.6.6 Site Distance Requirements, Sec. 3.2.10 Servitudes, and Sec. 6.2.2 Nonconforming Structures.
• Development-Specific Standards: In certain Traditional Neighborhood Developments and qualifying mixed-housing neighborhoods, an approved Pattern Book may establish fence or garden wall standards that differ from Sec. 2.2.2.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: The Unified Development Code requires a building permit for all fences greater than six feet in height, or constructed of masonry.
• Pattern Book Developments: Where an approved Pattern Book applies in a qualifying residential development, fence and garden wall standards may differ from the default standards in Sec. 2.2.2.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with the Planning & Zoning Department before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property Lines and Encroachments: 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.
• Public Property: No fence or any part of it may be placed or constructed on or over public property.
• Front Yard Setbacks: No fence exceeding 42 inches in height may be constructed in a prescribed front yard setback area. For a lot where the rear property line would normally be a front yard lot line, no fence in the area reserved for the front yard setback may exceed 42 inches.
• Corner Lots: On a corner lot, any portion of an opaque fence on the street sides of the lot that extends into the prescribed front or side yard setback may not exceed 42 inches in height.
• Servitudes: No permanent encroachment or structure may be located within a required servitude. The Parish or utility benefiting from the servitude has the right to remove fences, landscaping, or other improvements placed within that 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
• General Height Standard: The code does not specify a single parish-wide maximum height for all standard residential fences. It does require a building permit for fences greater than six feet in height, and it imposes lower limits in certain setback and visibility areas.
• Setback Area Height Limits: In the prescribed front yard setback areas described by the code, and on certain corner-lot street sides that extend into prescribed setback areas, fences may not exceed 42 inches in height.
• Traffic Visibility: No fence may be constructed in a manner that prevents the driver of a vehicle from having a clear, unobstructed view of traffic signs and approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
• Intersection Sight Areas: On corner lots, no fence, wall, hedge, or shrub planting that obstructs sight lines may be placed or allowed to remain within the required sight-distance areas. The code sets 25-foot distances at collector/local street intersections and 15-foot distances at intersections of two local streets or a street and an alley.
• Vehicular Access Areas: No portion of a fence or wall exceeding 2.5 feet in height above finished lot grade may exceed 25 percent opacity when it is located in a required yard that has vehicular access to a street or abuts that access.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Authorized Materials: Fences must be constructed of wood, masonry, or other similar materials commonly used, marketed, and sold for fencing, including materials such as PVC plastic or decorative metal.
• Prohibited Materials: Plain concrete block, fiberglass, and metal sheeting are not allowed.
• Residential Zone Restriction: Barbed wire is prohibited in residential zones.
• Parish-Wide Prohibited Nonfencing Materials: Corrugated iron, sheet metal, steel plates, broken glass, and aluminum plates are prohibited in all zoning districts of the Parish.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
• Subdivision Restrictions: More restrictive subdivision restrictions on fences take precedence over the default fence standards in the Unified Development Code.
• Private Covenants: Homeowners association rules, deed restrictions, and private covenants operate independently of parish regulations and may be more restrictive.
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 Triggers: Fences greater than six feet in height and fences constructed of masonry.
• Setback Compliance: Fences placed in prescribed front yard setback areas, or on certain corner-lot street sides within prescribed setback areas, that exceed 42 inches in height.
• Visibility Hazards: Fences that obstruct traffic signs, approaching traffic, merging traffic, intersecting traffic, or required sight-distance areas.
• Opacity Limits Near Driveways: Fences or walls in required yards with vehicular street access that exceed the 2.5-foot / 25 percent opacity standard.
• Encroachments: Fences placed on public property or within required servitudes.
• Nonconforming Structures: Fences or garden walls that do not comply with applicable height, setback, or material standards are identified by the code as examples of nonconforming structures.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within St. Mary 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 the Planning & Zoning Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from St. Mary Parish staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.