Before you start digging post holes and picking out materials, make sure you’re in the know about the Town's fence rules! From permit requirements to shared fence responsibilities, there’s more to a new fence than just marking your property line.

Here’s what you need to know to stay compliant and keep the peace with your neighbors!

Fence Facts 101

First, potential fence builders should check with the Town and their HOA (if applicable) regarding height, material, setback requirements, and whether all this fence-building requires a permit. In Collierville, in most cases, a property owner or contractor wanting to put up a new or replacement fence or wall must first get permission (via a permit) from the Development Department. Exceptions are limited to minor fence maintenance.

Here are some more details about the fence permit process:

• The cost of all fence permits, whether residential or commercial/nonresidential, is $50.
  
  
• Double permit fees will be applied when fences are installed without a permit.
  
  
• Most fence permits are reviewed and approved administratively by Town staff. Exceptions included fences that do not meet Town standards.
  
  
• If more than fifty percent of an already existing fence needs to be reconstructed, then a permit is necessary. Even if a permit isn’t needed for a replacement fence, it still needs to follow the fence regulations found in the Zoning Ordinance and Building Code.
  
  
• The property owner and/or contractor must complete a fence permit application. All pages need to be reviewed and signed by the property owner.
  
  
• Applicants must submit a plan showing the planned fence location. If they don’t have their own drawing, they can easily make one with the Town’s custom mapping tool.
  
  
• In some nonresidential cases, applicants must submit a fence design, which must be uploaded with the permit application.
  
  
• Applicants must indicate on application how they want to receive their issued permit (i.e. mailed, emailed or picked up in person). Applicants can now apply, pay, and receive their issued permit online without coming to Town Hall.
  
  
• Some types of fences, such as new chain link, are not allowed. Check with Town staff for more information.
  
  
• It is very common to wonder who pays for the building and maintenance of a “shared” fence. A property line fence or wall is a common barrier separating two pieces of property (your yard from your next-door neighbor’s). Unless there’s an easement that delegates maintenance duties to another party like an HOA, the property owner is responsible for building and maintaining the fence on their property; however, it is very difficult to tell if a fence is on a shared property line without a recent professional survey. It is customary for property owners on either side of a property line to work together on maintaining the shared fence, but this is not a local requirement. Determining the responsibility for shared costs is a private matter between the property owners.
  
  
• Fences will be inspected to make sure they are installed per the approved permit and per Town regulations. If there are any issues with the fence that need to be fixed, they must be corrected within a reasonable timeframe as specified by the Development Department.

For more information, click here.