FENCE RULES – SEARCY (CITY), ARKANSAS
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within the City of Searcy, subject to local regulations. For properties located outside Searcy municipal limits, White County regulates fences in unincorporated areas.
Fence rules in the City of Searcy appear primarily in the City of Searcy Zoning Code, especially Article 5-12: Fences, with related rules in the Code of Ordinances, the Residential Fence Permit form, the Downtown Searcy Overlay District, the Flood Damage Prevention Code, and property-maintenance provisions.
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 Searcy Planning & Development, City of Searcy Building Codes, City of Searcy Planning & Zoning, City of Searcy Code Enforcement, City of Searcy Code of Ordinances, City of Searcy Zoning Code, City of Searcy Land Development and Subdivision Regulations, Searcy Inspection Department Residential Fence Permit, City of Searcy Flood Damage Prevention Code, and City of Searcy Floodplain Development Permit Application as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The City of Searcy regulates residential fences through the City of Searcy Zoning Code and related permit administration.
The fence-specific zoning article is Article 5-12: Fences. It sets the basic local fence rules for height, rights-of-way, front yards, side-street yards, permits, permit information, fees, maintenance, and appeals.
The Searcy Inspection Department administers the residential fence permit form. The form identifies the permit as a Residential Fence Permit and asks for the property owner, property address, contractor, corner-lot status, total fence height, fence type, and a sketch.
The Planning & Development function, Administrative Official, Searcy Inspection Department, Code Enforcement Office, Searcy Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustment, and Floodplain Administrator may be relevant depending on permit type, zoning district, overlay status, floodplain status, or enforcement context.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Fence Permit Required: No fence, wall, or other enclosure may be constructed unless the contractor or owner first applies for and secures a building permit from the Administrative Official under the fence regulations.
• Residential Fence Permit Form: The Searcy Inspection Department Residential Fence Permit form applies to residential fence work and requires a sketch, corner-lot designation, fence type, and total height. The form lists privacy and chain link as fence type options and states Maximum 6 ft.
• Permit Application Information: A fence or wall permit application must provide the height of the fence or wall, its location in relation to streets, property lines, easements, buildings, and private drives, and the location of any property lines affected by the fence or wall.
• Fence Permit Fee: A fence or wall permit fee applies according to the fee schedule established by the City Council and amended from time to time.
• Downtown Searcy Overlay District: In the Downtown Searcy Overlay District, construction of a new fence visible from the public right-of-way that requires permitting triggers overlay standards, except for existing One-Unit Dwellings within the district.
• Floodplain Development Permit: In a Special Flood Hazard Area, a separate floodplain development permit may be required because the flood code treats construction or erection of walls or fences as development. The Floodplain Development Permit packet states that floodplain development permits are required only for development in areas designated as Special Flood Hazard Areas on FEMA-issued flood maps.
• Swimming Pool Context: The City of Searcy has adopted the 1997 Standard Swimming Pool Code for construction or installation within the city and separately lists swimming pool permits. The fence article does not publish a separate pool-barrier height or design standard.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• Front Yards: Fences are not permitted in the front yard of any residential district. The zoning code states that any yard, including paved areas, adjoining a street is considered a front yard.
• Street Rights-of-Way: Fences may not be constructed within any street right-of-way.
• Side-Street Yards Along Collector or Arterial Streets: Lots with Side-Street Yards, as defined by the zoning code, that are located along collector or arterial streets may construct fences up to the collector or arterial street right-of-way.
• Property Lines: 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.
• Permit Sketch and Location Review: The permit rules require the proposed fence or wall to be shown in relation to streets, property lines, easements, buildings, and private drives.
• Floodplain Areas: Where a fence is proposed in a Special Flood Hazard Area, the floodplain development rules may apply before construction begins.
• 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
• Maximum Height: A fence may not exceed 6 feet, measured from the ground.
• Residential Fence Permit Height: The Residential Fence Permit form also states Maximum 6 ft.
• Front-Yard Limitation: Because fences are not permitted in residential front yards, the 6-foot height limit does not create permission for front-yard residential fencing.
• Intersection Visibility: The zoning code governs plantings and other obstructions to vision at intersections on city streets. The visibility diagram shows a 35-foot by 35-foot clear area measured from the back of curb or edge of pavement.
• Public Right-of-Way Visibility: No land uses may be conducted on public right-of-way. No trees or shrubs may become visual or physical obstacles within the public right-of-way.
• Airport Zoning Context: The zoning code states that all structures and uses must comply with the Airport Zoning Code of the City of Searcy. The residential fence article separately limits fences to 6 feet.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Recognized Fence Types: The Residential Fence Permit form lists privacy and chain link as residential fence type options.
• Prohibited Permanent Fencing Materials: Tarpaulins, canvas, plastic, oil cloth, sheeting, and other similar materials may not be used as permanent fencing material.
• Maintenance: All fences and walls must be maintained in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition and kept clear of obnoxious substances, rubbish, and weeds.
• Structural Condition: Fences and walls must be properly maintained at all times. The Enforcement Officer may order repair or removal of a fence or wall that is defective, damaged, substantially deteriorated, or presents a public hazard.
• Property Maintenance Standard: The property maintenance code states that accessory structures, including fences and walls, must be maintained in good and workmanlike fashion and must be structurally sound.
• Downtown Searcy Overlay District Materials: In the Downtown Searcy Overlay District, fencing must be decorative, built with high-quality materials, and support the look and character of downtown where the overlay standards apply.
• Downtown Searcy Overlay Prohibitions: In the Downtown Searcy Overlay District, razor, barbed wire, and chain-link fences are prohibited if visible from a public right-of-way or a residential area.
• Downtown Masonry Columns: In the Downtown Searcy Overlay District, masonry columns at fence corners and spaced along the fence in 50-foot intervals are encouraged. Unpainted, unstained, or otherwise untreated precision concrete block is prohibited in that overlay context.
• Electric Fences: The code does not specify a standard residential rule for electric fences or battery-charged electric fences in the fence article.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private restrictions operate independently from City of Searcy fence rules. HOA covenants, subdivision restrictions, deed restrictions, bills of assurance, private easements, agricultural agreements, architectural-review covenants, and private boundary agreements may be more restrictive than city rules.
Subdivision and development materials may identify building setback lines, easements, rights-of-way, covenants, restrictions, or bills of assurance. Those private or plat-based conditions may affect where a fence can be placed even when the City code does not state a separate fence setback from a private 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:
• Permit Review: Construction, alteration, or relocation of a fence, wall, or other enclosure without the required permit.
• Height Review: A fence exceeding 6 feet measured from the ground.
• Front-Yard Review: A fence placed in the front yard of a residential district.
• Right-of-Way Review: A fence constructed within a street right-of-way.
• Side-Street Yard Review: A fence on a side-street yard along a collector or arterial street may be reviewed against the rule allowing fences up to the collector or arterial street right-of-way.
• Intersection Visibility Review: Fences, plantings, or other obstructions may be reviewed where they affect the 35-foot by 35-foot clear area or otherwise create a visual or physical obstacle within public right-of-way.
• Easement and Property-Line Review: The permit process requires the proposed fence or wall location to be shown in relation to property lines, easements, buildings, streets, and private drives.
• Downtown Overlay Review: A new permitted fence visible from the public right-of-way in the Downtown Searcy Overlay District may be reviewed for overlay compliance, except where the existing one-unit dwelling exception applies.
• Floodplain Review: A fence, wall, grading, fill, excavation, or related development in a Special Flood Hazard Area may require floodplain development review.
• Material Review: Permanent use of tarpaulins, canvas, plastic, oil cloth, sheeting, or similar materials as fencing material.
• Maintenance Review: Fences or walls that are defective, damaged, substantially deteriorated, structurally unsound, unsanitary, or otherwise present a public hazard.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within the City of Searcy, 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 City of Searcy Planning & Development and the Searcy Inspection Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Searcy staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.