FENCE RULES – LYON (COUNTY), NEVADA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Lyon County, subject to local regulations.
This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of Lyon County; incorporated municipalities regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Lyon County does not place all residential fence rules in a single standalone fence chapter. The main local rules appear in the Lyon County Building FAQ, Title 15, Land Use and Development Code, the residential sight-distance standards, and the Lyon County Excavations and Encroachments Ordinance for county rights-of-way.
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 Lyon County Building Department guidance, the Lyon County Building FAQ, Title 15 Land Use and Development Code, Lyon County Planning Division materials, Lyon County Floodplain and Drainage materials, Lyon County Code Enforcement materials, the Lyon County Building Information and Design Criteria document, and the Lyon County Excavations and Encroachments Ordinance as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Lyon County regulates residential fencing through the Lyon County Board of Commissioners, the Lyon County Community Development Department, the Lyon County Building Department, the Lyon County Planning Division, and the Lyon County Road Department where county rights-of-way are involved.
The Lyon County Building Department administers building-code and permit matters. The Lyon County Planning Division administers land-use, zoning, development, and planning review. Title 15, Land Use and Development Code is the county’s consolidated land use and development code.
The Lyon County Code Enforcement Office handles complaint-based code enforcement. The Lyon County Road Department administers right-of-way encroachment permits under the Lyon County Excavations and Encroachments Ordinance.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: Lyon County states that fences six feet or less in height do not require a building permit.
• Residential Height Compliance: The building-permit exemption must be read with Lyon County’s published residential fence height limits: six feet in side and rear yards, three feet in front yard areas, and two feet within 25 feet of an intersection.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with the Lyon County Planning Division before construction.
• Right-of-Way Use Permit: Under the Lyon County Excavations and Encroachments Ordinance, a fence placed in, under, or over any portion of a county right-of-way is an encroachment. Encroachment or excavation within a county right-of-way requires a permit from the Lyon County Road Department.
• Development-Context Review: In new subdivisions, new developments, and infill developments subject to Title 15, Chapter 341, required development fencing may be reviewed as part of the county’s planning and development process. These provisions are separate from the ordinary homeowner-facing building permit and height rules summarized above.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property Lines and Setbacks: The published fence-specific FAQ does not state a separate setback distance for standard residential fences from property lines. Lyon County states that minimum setback requirements are established by County zoning codes, and that easements or deed restrictions may also restrict placement.
• Owner’s Property: 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.
• Development-Context Side and Rear Lot Lines: In new subdivisions, new developments, and infill developments in the listed suburban residential districts, Title 15, Chapter 341 includes required development-fencing standards along side and rear lot lines of parcels 12,000 square feet or less.
• Development-Context Collector and Arterial Frontage: Where Title 15, Chapter 341 requires development fencing adjacent to collector and arterial street rights-of-way, that required fencing is subject to the material standards stated in the development code.
• County Right-of-Way: A fence located in, under, or over a county right-of-way is treated as an encroachment and requires right-of-way permit review by the Lyon County Road Department.
• Utility Safety: Nevada law requires underground utility notification through Nevada 811 before excavation. For fence projects that involve digging, including fence post holes, notice must be provided before excavation begins.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Side and Rear Yards: Residential fences in side and rear yards are limited to a maximum height of six feet.
• Front Yards: Fences in front yard areas may not exceed three feet in height.
• Intersections: Fences within 25 feet of an intersection are limited to two feet in height.
• Residential Sight-Distance Triangle: In Residential Zoning Districts, no tree, sight-obscuring fence, shrub, wall, or other visual obstruction may be higher than 30 inches above the adjacent street, alley, or driveway grade within the required triangular sight-distance area.
• Street Intersections: At an intersection of two street rights-of-way, the triangular sight-distance area extends 20 feet along both right-of-way lines from their point of intersection. For this rule, an alley is treated as a street.
• Driveway Intersections: At an intersection of a driveway with a street or alley, the triangular sight-distance area extends 10 feet along the street or alley right-of-way and 15 feet along the edge of the driveway from their point of intersection.
• More Restrictive Visibility Standard: Title 15 states that the sight-distance requirements are in addition to other county site-distance protection requirements, and the more restrictive requirement applies where requirements conflict.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Standard Residential Fence Materials: Lyon County does not publish a general permitted-material or prohibited-material list for ordinary homeowner-installed residential fences.
• Development-Context Fencing: Title 15, Chapter 341 includes fence standards for new subdivisions, new developments, and infill developments in specified residential development contexts. Those standards apply to required development fencing and should not be read as a general material rule for every existing single-family residential lot.
• Required Development Fencing: Where the Title 15 development-fencing standards apply, side and rear lot-line fencing for parcels 12,000 square feet or less must be a solid block wall or wooden fence at least six feet in height.
• Collector and Arterial Frontage Materials: Where Title 15 requires development fencing adjacent to collector or arterial street rights-of-way, the required fence must be constructed of decorative block, brick, stucco, or similar decorative masonry material.
• Development Fence Alternatives and Waivers: Title 15 allows wrought iron fencing, or a combination of block and wrought iron fencing, as an alternative where views or openness are being preserved. It also allows waiver of new fencing requirements where an existing fence is well maintained, and Planning Commission waiver in hillside areas where severe slope makes the required fence serve no purpose.
• Barbed Wire, Razor Wire, Electric Fences, and Battery-Charged Fences: The reviewed local materials do not publish a local standard for barbed wire, razor wire, electric fencing, or battery-charged fencing for standard single-family residential fences.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private restrictions operate independently from Lyon County’s public fence rules. HOAs, covenants, deed restrictions, private development standards, subdivision documents, or planned community rules may be more restrictive than county requirements.
Lyon County’s FAQ separately notes that deed restrictions and easements may affect how close a project can be placed to a property line.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Building Permit Threshold: A fence that does not fall within Lyon County’s published six feet or less building-permit exemption may require building-permit review.
• Residential Height Limits: Fence review may involve the six-foot side and rear yard limit, the three-foot front yard limit, and the two-foot limit within 25 feet of an intersection.
• Sight-Distance Areas: Review may involve the 30-inch sight-obstruction limit within Title 15 triangular sight-distance areas at street, alley, and driveway intersections.
• Zoning, Setback, and Easement Conditions: Review may involve zoning conditions, setbacks, easements, deed restrictions, or plat-based limitations.
• County Right-of-Way Encroachments: A fence located in, under, or over a county right-of-way is an encroachment and is reviewed under the Lyon County Excavations and Encroachments Ordinance.
• Development-Context Fencing: In new subdivisions, new developments, and infill developments subject to Title 15, Chapter 341, review may include required side and rear fencing, collector or arterial frontage materials, view-preserving alternatives, existing fence waivers, or hillside waivers. These provisions concern required development fencing and are separate from the ordinary homeowner-facing permit and height rules summarized above.
• Complaint-Based Enforcement: The Lyon County Code Enforcement Office receives complaints and identifies failure to obtain required permits, failure to meet permit conditions, land use code violations, storm drainage issues, and repeated complaints as enforcement contexts.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Lyon County, based on publicly available ordinances and department guidance current as of May 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Nevada laws apply statewide. See Statewide Fence Laws in Nevada.
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 Lyon County Community Development Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Lyon County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.