FENCE RULES – SILOAM SPRINGS (CITY), ARKANSAS
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Siloam Springs, subject to local regulations. For properties located outside City of Siloam Springs municipal limits, Benton County regulates fences in unincorporated areas.
City of Siloam Springs fence rules now appear primarily in Chapter 35, Development, Signs, and Zoning, also called the Unified Development Code. Chapter 35 was adopted by Ordinance 25-34 and replaced the prior development, landscaping, planning, signs, subdivision, and zoning chapters. The specific fence standards appear in Section 35-223, Fences.
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 Siloam Springs Building Department materials, Building FAQ, Code Enforcement page, Planning Division page, Development Procedures Manual, Fence Permit Packet, and Chapter 35, Development, Signs, and Zoning, as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
• Governing Authority: Residential fence regulation within City of Siloam Springs is governed by Chapter 35, Development, Signs, and Zoning, also identified by the City as the Unified Development Code.
• Current Code Structure: Ordinance 25-34 repealed the prior landscaping, land use, planning, signs, subdivision, and zoning chapters and adopted Municipal Code Chapter 35. The current fence rule is Section 35-223, Fences.
• Building Administration: The Building and Inspections Division administers fence permit intake and inspection through the Building Inspector at the Community Development Department.
• Planning Administration: The Planning Division reviews development permit applications for compliance with the City’s development standards and City Code. Planning materials identify Chapter 35 as the current development and zoning regulation source.
• Code Enforcement: Code Enforcement is a division of Community Development and addresses property maintenance, nuisance, safety, and complaint-based code issues.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Fence Permit Required: No person may erect, construct, place, or replace a fence or dividing wall on a lot or parcel without first obtaining a fence permit.
• Maintenance Exception: The fence permit requirement does not apply to maintenance and repair of an existing fence or dividing wall structure. It does apply to relocations and extensions.
• Fence Not Associated With Another Permit: The Development Procedures Manual states that a fence permit is needed when a new fence is proposed and is not associated with another permit, such as a building permit.
• Application Materials: Fence permit applicants must submit plans for the proposed fence, wall, or alteration. The plans must show the property boundary lines, existing permanent structures on the property, the proposed fence or wall location, dimensions, and proposed construction materials.
• Owner Permission: If the applicant is not the property owner, the permit materials require written permission from the property owner before the permit is issued.
• Permit Fee: A local fence permit fee applies. The exact fee amount is not included here because permit fees may change by schedule, ordinance, or administrative update.
• Staff Review: Building Division staff review may include the zoning designation, property lines, setbacks, the proposed improvement location, and related site conditions.
• Completion Inspection: A site inspection is required after the completed installation of any fence or wall.
FENCE PLACEMENT RULES
• 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. Utility easements and drainage easements are governed by the separate rules below.
• Front Right-of-Way Property Line: No opaque fence or wall higher than 3 feet may be erected on the property line that abuts the public right-of-way contiguous to the front setback or front yard, and no fence or wall in that location may be higher than 5 feet regardless of type.
• Sight Distance Triangle: No fence or wall may be erected within the sight distance triangle.
• Drainage Ditches and Easements: No fence or wall may be placed across a drainage ditch or easement in a way that impedes the proper drainage function of the ditch or easement.
• Utility Easements: If a fence or structure is constructed over an existing utility easement, the fence owner is responsible for replacing fencing that is removed for maintenance or utility work at the owner’s expense.
• Electrical Transformer Clearances: The fence permit packet states mandatory clearances around electrical transformers of 10 feet from the front and 3 feet from the sides and rear.
• 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
• Standard Residential Height Limit: No fence or wall may exceed 7 feet in the R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, P-DL, UPD, M-H, and R-O zoning districts when the fence or wall abuts another adjacent property or a collector street or lower.
• Residential Lots With Commercial, Institutional, or Arterial Context: A residential lot may use the 8-foot height category when it abuts another commercial or institutional lot or an arterial street or higher.
• Administrative Height Allowance: The administrator may allow a fence up to 12 feet on a case-by-case basis when the adjacent or abutting land uses have significantly lower housing density, have significant land elevation changes, or are otherwise incompatible and require more robust screening based on anticipated visual impacts.
• Front Right-of-Way Property Line: On the property line that abuts the public right-of-way contiguous to the front setback or front yard, an opaque fence or wall may not exceed 3 feet, and no fence or wall may exceed 5 feet regardless of type.
• Sight Distance Triangle: No fence or wall may be erected within the sight distance triangle. Chapter 35 defines the sight distance triangle using the intersection of curb lines or pavement edges, an 18-foot short leg, and a longer leg measured according to the City’s sight-distance figure and applicable street or design-speed condition.
• Stationary Object Height in Sight Triangle: Within the sight distance triangle, no stationary object, permanent or temporary, taller than 30 inches is permitted, except traffic-control devices or governmental structures.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Construction Materials Identified in Application: The fence permit application requires the proposed fence or wall construction material to be identified.
• Residential Material Limits: The code does not specify prohibited materials for standard single-family residential fences.
• Opaque Fence Limit: Opaque fences and walls are subject to the 3-foot front right-of-way property-line limit described above.
• Finished Side: The code does not specify a finished-side orientation requirement for standard single-family residential fences.
• Barbed Wire, Electric Fence, and Chain Link: The code does not specify a standard single-family residential prohibition or allowance for barbed wire, electric fencing, battery-charged fencing, or chain-link fencing in the fence section.
• Pool Barriers: The provided City sources do not publish a separate private single-family residential pool-barrier rule in the fence section.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
• Private Covenants: HOAs, subdivision covenants, deed restrictions, architectural-review covenants, private easements, agricultural agreements, boundary agreements, and other private restrictions operate independently from City fence rules.
• More Restrictive Private Rules: Private restrictions may be more restrictive than City of Siloam Springs fence standards.
• Private Enforcement: The City’s published fence materials do not state that private restrictions are enforced by the City.
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 Requirement: New fences, replacement fences, dividing walls, relocations, and extensions require a fence permit before installation.
• Application Completeness: Review may include the property boundary lines, existing permanent structures, proposed fence or wall location, dimensions, and proposed construction materials.
• Owner Authorization: When the applicant is not the owner, written owner permission is part of the fence permit workflow.
• Staff Review: Building Division review may include zoning designation, property lines, setbacks, and the proposed location of the improvement.
• Residential Height Limits: Residential fences and walls are reviewed against the 7-foot standard residential limit, the 8-foot residential edge-condition limit, and any case-by-case 12-foot administrative allowance where applicable.
• Front Yard and Right-of-Way Visibility: Fences and walls along the property line abutting the public right-of-way contiguous to the front setback or front yard are reviewed against the 3-foot opaque and 5-foot overall limits.
• Sight Distance: Fences and walls are not allowed within the sight distance triangle, and stationary objects within that area are subject to the 30-inch height rule.
• Drainage Function: Fences and walls may not cross a drainage ditch or easement in a way that impedes proper drainage function.
• Utility Easement Maintenance: If fencing over a utility easement is removed for maintenance or utility work, replacement of the removed fencing is the fence owner’s responsibility.
• Electrical Transformer Clearances: Fence placement near electrical transformers is reviewed against the 10-foot front and 3-foot side and rear clearance standards.
• Completion Inspection: A site inspection is required after fence or wall installation.
• Code Enforcement: Code Enforcement may address fence-related conditions through property maintenance, nuisance, safety, or complaint-based code enforcement where applicable.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Siloam Springs, 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 Building and Inspections Division and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Siloam Springs staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.