FENCE RULES – SHERWOOD (CITY), ARKANSAS
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Sherwood, subject to local regulations. For properties located outside Sherwood municipal limits, Pulaski County regulates fences in unincorporated areas.
The City of Sherwood has a specific fence section in the City of Sherwood Zoning Code, with related rules in the city’s building-code amendments, right-of-way provisions, property-maintenance provisions, residential pool standards, subdivision regulations, and published residential fence standard details.
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 City of Sherwood Zoning Code, Residential Building Permit Application, City of Sherwood Code of Ordinances excerpts, Control of Development and Subdivision of Land Rules and Regulations, and City of Sherwood residential fence standard details as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The City of Sherwood regulates residential fences through the City of Sherwood Zoning Code, especially Section 14.10.02, Fence Requirements, and Section 14.10.13, Sight Triangle.
Fence permitting is administered through Permits & Planning and the city’s planning and permitting structure. The Zoning Code also assigns review and interpretation roles to the Enforcement Officer, and certain visibility determinations may involve the City Engineer or Public Works Director.
Sherwood’s building-code amendments state that permits are required for fences, and the Residential Building Permit Application includes Fence as a class of work.
The city also publishes standard residential fence details for wood fences, wood fences with metal posts, and chain-link fences. These details provide construction reference standards where the city applies them during permit or inspection review.
The Control of Development and Subdivision of Land Rules and Regulations may affect fences when a property is subject to plat requirements, easements, subdivision improvements, drainage facilities, bills of assurance, or approved subdivision plans.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Fence Permit Required: The City of Sherwood Zoning Code requires a completed permit application and an accurate site plan for fence construction. If code requirements are met and the permit fee is paid, a permit is issued.
• Residential Building Permit Application: The Residential Building Permit Application includes Fence as a class of work and states that development must comply with the building and zoning codes adopted by the City of Sherwood.
• Plans and Scope: Applications submitted without plans and a scope of work are automatically denied under the permit application form.
• Contractor Documentation: If a general contractor is used, the permit application requires a current contractor license, current city business license, and a $10,000 bond payable to the City of Sherwood before permit approval.
• Private Restrictions Acknowledgment: The permit application separately directs verification of any HOA, POA, or Bill of Assurance requirements for the proposed development.
• Pool Barriers: Where a fence functions as the required barrier for a residential swimming pool, the pool-barrier standards in Section 14.10.14 apply in addition to the ordinary fence rules.
• Waiver Requests: If use requirements suggest a need for an exception from the fence requirements in Section 14.10.02, the applicant may request a determination by the Planning Commission. Sight-distance requirements cannot be waived.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Property-Line Placement: 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.
• Right-of-Way: A fence, sign, or other obstruction may not be erected on the part of the property that constitutes the right-of-way. Sherwood also prohibits man-made obstructions, including fences, on city property between the abutting owner’s property line and the street hard surface or curb line.
• Front Yard Location: The Zoning Code regulates fencing in the portion of a lot from the building line to the property line in any front-yard setback. The height rule for that area is stated in the height section below.
• Corner Lots: A fence facing a street on a corner lot may receive a deviation from the ordinary setback or height requirement from the Enforcement Officer only where there is no deviation from the sight-triangle requirement, the view of traffic is not obstructed from adjoining lots, and prohibited fence material or construction is not proposed.
• Abutting Front Building Line Area: The city’s corner-lot fence diagram states that fences in the area in front of the abutting property’s front building line require approval of the City Engineer.
• Sight Triangle Area: No fencing is permitted in the area defined as the sight triangle under Section 14.10.13. The sight triangle is formed by two lines extending 25 feet from the point of intersection of the continuation of curb lines, or edges of pavement or driveways, and one connecting line across right-of-way or private property.
• Drainage, Easements, and Hydrants: Fencing may not impede drainage flows, restrict access to public utility easements, or be located within 3 feet of any fire hydrant.
• Subdivision and Plat Context: Where a lot is governed by a subdivision plat, final development plan, easement, or bill of assurance, the recorded conditions may affect fence placement independently of the general fence section.
• Utility Safety: Arkansas law requires notice through Arkansas 811 before excavation where the Arkansas Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act applies. For fence projects that involve digging, including fence post holes, notice may be required before excavation begins. Arkansas law also includes specific exemptions, including certain agricultural-purpose posthole digging on private property outside an operator right-of-way.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Front Yard Height: Fencing in the portion of a lot from the building line to the property line in any front-yard setback may be no more than 3 1/2 feet in height.
• Side and Rear Yard Height: Fences in side and rear yards may be no more than 8 feet in height.
• Corner-Lot Height Deviations: The Enforcement Officer may allow a deviation from the setback or height requirement for a fence facing a street on a corner lot only where the sight triangle is not affected, traffic views from adjoining lots are not obstructed, and prohibited fence material or construction is not used.
• Sight Triangle Vertical Clearance: Within the sight triangle, there may be no obstructions between 2 feet and 10 feet above ground, except for street name signs, traffic-control devices, fire hydrants, and necessary public safety or utility appurtenances.
• Sight-Triangle Administration: The sight triangle may be applied by the City Engineer, Public Works Director, or Enforcement Officer to guide placement, removal, or maintenance of potential obstructions. When conflicts arise, the City Engineer makes the final determination under the Zoning Code.
• Pool Barrier Height: A permanent barrier around a residential swimming pool must be at least 4 feet in height.
• Overlay Height Context: Where property lies within the Air Installation Compatible Use Zone Overlay District, no use may violate FAR Part 77 height-restriction criteria or create hazardous interference with aircraft operations. The code does not state a separate fence-specific height limit for ordinary residential fencing in that overlay.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Finished Side: Fences must have the finished side facing toward the public way.
• Prohibited Residential Materials: In residential and commercial zones, prohibited fence materials include barbed wire, razor wire, electrified fencing, barn tin, brush, scrap, temporary materials, and perishable materials. Electric fencing for pets is permitted.
• Livestock Fencing: Fencing for livestock purposes is permitted in all districts and may include metal, barbed wire, and similar types. This is a livestock-purpose allowance, not an ordinary urban residential fence-material rule.
• Industrial Security Fencing: Metal, barbed wire, and similar fencing may be used for security purposes in industrial districts. This is not a standard single-family residential allowance.
• Standard Trade Practice: Fences must be installed in accordance with American Fence Association standards or an equivalent industry standard.
• Nonconforming Fences: Existing nonconforming fences that are replaced or repaired may be of similar design, height, location, or materials, but must comply with the sight-triangle requirements.
• Wood Fence Details: Sherwood’s residential wood-fence standard details show treated wood members, non-corrosive fastening hardware, galvanized nails or screws, typical 8-foot post spacing, and concrete footings.
• Chain-Link Fence Details: Sherwood’s residential chain-link standard details provide city standard drawings for chain-link fence components, gates, post spacing, bracing, caps, latches, and related hardware.
• Maintenance: Property-maintenance provisions treat fences and walls as accessory structures that must be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
• Painted Surfaces: The property-maintenance code includes painted fence surfaces within its lead-based paint provisions where the stated lead-content threshold applies.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
HOAs, POAs, bills of assurance, subdivision covenants, deed restrictions, private easements, architectural-review covenants, and private boundary agreements operate independently from City of Sherwood fence rules and may be more restrictive.
The Residential Building Permit Application specifically places responsibility on the homeowner to verify any BOA, POA, or HOA requirements for proposed development in the neighborhood.
The Control of Development and Subdivision of Land Rules and Regulations also recognize bills of assurance and subdivision covenants as part of the subdivision approval and platting context.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Fence Permit Review: A completed permit application, accurate site plan, plans, scope of work, and applicable fee are reviewed before fence permit issuance.
• Building and Zoning Compliance: Fence work must comply with the building and zoning codes adopted by the City of Sherwood.
• Height Limits: Review may address the 3 1/2-foot front-yard height limit and 8-foot side and rear yard height limit.
• Sight Triangle: Review may address fences or other obstructions in the 25-foot sight triangle and the required clear area between 2 feet and 10 feet above ground.
• Corner-Lot Conditions: Review may address street-facing corner-lot fences, City Engineer approval for the diagrammed abutting-front-building-line area, and any proposed deviation from ordinary setback or height requirements.
• Drainage, Easements, and Hydrants: Review may address fences that impede drainage flows, restrict public utility easement access, or are located within 3 feet of a fire hydrant.
• Right-of-Way Obstructions: Review may address fences or other obstructions placed within city rights-of-way or the area between the property line and the street hard surface or curb line.
• Prohibited Materials: Review may address prohibited materials, including barbed wire, razor wire, electrified fencing, barn tin, brush, scrap, temporary materials, and perishable materials, except where the code provides a specific permitted context.
• Pool Barriers: Review may address residential pool barriers, including 4-foot minimum height, anti-climb construction, maximum opening sizes, and gate-latch height.
• Property Maintenance: Review may address fences and walls that are not structurally sound, not in good repair, or create unsafe conditions.
• Overlay or Plat Conditions: Review may address AICUZOD limitations, subdivision plat conditions, easements, bills of assurance, or final development-plan requirements where they apply to the property.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Sherwood, based on publicly available materials reviewed as of May 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Arkansas laws apply statewide. See Statewide Fence Laws in Arkansas.
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, floodplain status, historic district status, rural or agricultural context, and private restrictions such as HOA covenants or private agreements. Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, confirm current requirements and any site-specific limitations with Permits & Planning and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Sherwood staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.