FENCE RULES – ST. TAMMANY (PARISH), LOUISIANA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within St. Tammany Parish, subject to local regulations.
This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of St. Tammany Parish; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.
St. Tammany Parish does not publish a single standalone residential fence chapter. Relevant rules appear primarily in the St. Tammany Parish Unified Development Code, especially Chapter 300 – Buildings and Construction for permit thresholds and Chapter 600 – General Development Standards for visibility controls, with an additional right-of-way obstruction rule in Sec. 35-8 of the St. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances.
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. Tammany Parish Unified Development Code, the St. Tammany Parish Code of Ordinances, the Department of Permits and Inspections page, the Planning & Development page, and the Department of Engineering page as of March 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Residential fence administration in St. Tammany Parish is divided primarily between the Department of Permits and Inspections and the Department of Planning & Development. The Department of Engineering Development Division also reviews certain private development matters involving entry into parish right-of-way and related development compliance.
The principal residential fence rules are not consolidated in one parish fence article. The main permit rule appears in the Unified Development Code, Chapter 300 – Buildings and Construction, and the main visibility rule appears in Chapter 600 – General Development Standards. Related placement restrictions for parish roads, shoulders, ditches, bridges, and drainage structures appear in Sec. 35-8 of the Code of Ordinances.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit Threshold: A Building Permit is not required for standard residential fences 7 feet in height or lower, as stated in the sources compiled for this page.
• Fences Over Seven Feet: Because the Unified Development Code requires permits for regulated construction work unless exempted, fences over 7 feet in height require a Building Permit from the Department of Permits and Inspections.
• 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 & Development before construction.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property-Line Setbacks: The parish code does not specify a setback requirement for standard residential fences from side or rear property lines.
• Parish Roads and Drainage Areas: Sec. 35-8 makes it unlawful to place fences or other obstructions on the shoulder, ditch, road, or bridge, or on any part of parish roads or bridges, or to obstruct a parish drainage structure.
• 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 Limit: The parish code does not specify a maximum height for standard single-family residential fences.
• Front-Yard Height Limit: The parish code does not specify a separate front-yard fence height limit for standard single-family residential lots.
• Clear Vision Areas: Clear vision areas must be free from visual obstruction between 3 feet and 8 feet in height, as measured from the crown of the street. Within those areas, a fence with a portion above 3 feet is permitted only if it meets the UDC’s open-fence standard.
• Fence Columns in Clear Vision Areas: Fence columns between 3 feet and 8 feet in height, measured from the crown of the street, may be no more than 18 inches in width and must be spaced no closer than 5 feet on center.
• Vegetation on Fences in Clear Vision Areas: Screening material, vines, shrubs, other plant life, or similar items that obstruct visibility may not be placed or permitted to grow on fences located in clear vision areas.
• Sight-Triangle Measurements: The parish code publishes numeric street-intersection and driveway-access sight-triangle measurements for multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial lots. The parish code does not specify a separate numeric sight-triangle measurement for standard single-family residential lots.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Residential Fence Materials: The parish code does not specify a standalone list of permitted or prohibited materials for standard single-family residential fences.
• Residential Construction Details: The parish code does not specify finished-side orientation, gate-swing direction, or similar general construction details for standard single-family residential fences.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Homeowners association rules, subdivision covenants, and other private restrictive covenants operate independently of parish regulations and may be more restrictive than parish fence rules.
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: Fences over 7 feet in height require permit review by the Department of Permits and Inspections.
• Visibility Review: Fences, columns, or screening within clear vision areas may be reviewed for compliance with the parish’s 3-foot to 8-foot visibility rules.
• Right-of-Way and Drainage Obstructions: Fences placed on parish roads, shoulders, ditches, bridges, or drainage structures can trigger enforcement under Sec. 35-8.
• Administrative Holds: For violations under Sec. 35-8, the parish may place holds on building permits or inspections until the violation is corrected.
• Complaint Intake: The Department of Planning & Development/Code Enforcement publishes a code enforcement complaint process and states that it enforces parish codes to protect health, safety, and welfare.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within St. Tammany 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 Permits and Inspections and Department of Planning & Development and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from St. Tammany Parish staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.