FENCE RULES – CLEBURNE (COUNTY), ARKANSAS
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Cleburne County, subject to local regulations. This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of Cleburne County; incorporated municipalities may regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Cleburne County does not publish a consolidated residential fence code. Fence-adjacent rules appear instead in Ordinance No. 2021-005, Ordinance No. 2025-20, the Cleburne County Utility Permit, County Code Chapter 12, and the Flood Damage Prevention Code for Cleburne County, Arkansas.
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 Cleburne County Code of Ordinances, Ordinance No. 2021-005, Ordinance No. 2025-20, the Cleburne County Utility Permit, the Flood Damage Prevention Code for Cleburne County, Arkansas, and Cleburne County frequently asked questions as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Cleburne County is governed by the Cleburne County Quorum Court, with road-related permission and utility-permit authority administered through the Cleburne County Judge and, where stated, the Cleburne County Road Department.
The county’s published zoning ordinance is Ordinance No. 2021-005. That ordinance rescinds the former county-Heber Springs planning arrangement, states that no Cleburne County-Heber Springs Planning and Zoning Commission exists, and states that Cleburne County has no specific zoning requirements or building permit requirements other than those prescribed by that ordinance or by the State of Arkansas.
The Building article in County Code Chapter 13 is reserved. The county materials do not identify a local building department or a county building-permit process for standard residential fences.
Floodplain administration is governed by Ordinance No. 2025-12 and the Flood Damage Prevention Code for Cleburne County, Arkansas. The Floodplain Administrator is the designee of the Cleburne County Judge.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Local Fence Permit: Cleburne County does not publish a local fence permit requirement for standard residential fences.
• Building and Zoning Permits: Ordinance No. 2021-005 states that Cleburne County has no specific zoning requirements or building permit requirements other than those prescribed by that ordinance or by the State of Arkansas. The county does not publish a local building-permit process for standard residential fences.
• County Road Right-of-Way: Any construction within a Cleburne County road right-of-way requires written permission from the Cleburne County Judge. Ordinance No. 2025-20 also requires a permit before a person, firm, corporation, or other entity places a line, pipeline, pole, conduit, facility, apparatus, or other matter upon or within any County Maintained Road, right-of-way, or road easement.
• County Road Utility Permit: The Cleburne County Utility Permit applies to utility lines within county road rights-of-way. It is not a general residential fence permit, but it is relevant where fence-related work intersects with utility placement or county road right-of-way conditions.
• Floodplain Development Permit: A Floodplain Development Permit is required for structural development, placement of manufactured structures, clearing, grading, mining, drilling, dredging, placement of fill, excavating, watercourse alteration, drainage improvements, roadway or bridge construction, individual water or sewer installations, or any other development in a Special Flood Hazard Area. A residential fence project in a Special Flood Hazard Area that includes one of those listed development activities is within the published floodplain development-permit framework.
• Culverts on County Roads: County Code Chapter 12 directs any person wishing to replace or install a new culvert onto a county road to contact the Cleburne County Road Department before installation so the Road Supervisor or appointee can inspect the area and advise the size culvert needed.
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 or easements.
• County Road Rights-of-Way: Any construction within a Cleburne County road right-of-way requires written permission from the Cleburne County Judge. Ordinance No. 2025-20 defines County Maintained Roads to include roadbeds, roadways, ditches, adjacent rights-of-way, and road easements.
• Road Easements and Ditches: Ordinance No. 2025-20 prohibits placing lines, pipelines, poles, conduits, facilities, apparatuses, or other matter upon or within a County Maintained Road, right-of-way, or road easement without first obtaining the required county permit.
• Driveway and Culvert Context: The county code addresses culverts separately from fence placement. For a fence project that also involves replacing or installing a culvert onto a county road, the published county rule directs prior contact with the Cleburne County Road Department.
• Floodplain Areas: The Flood Damage Prevention Code for Cleburne County, Arkansas applies to all Special Flood Hazard Areas within the jurisdiction of Cleburne County. It regulates listed development activities in those areas, including clearing, grading, excavating, placement of fill, drainage improvements, watercourse alteration, roadway or bridge construction, and other development.
• 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 Fence Height: The code does not specify a maximum height for standard residential fences.
• Yard-Based Height Limits: The code does not specify separate residential fence height limits for front yards, side yards, or rear yards.
• Corner Lots and Driveways: The code does not publish a separate corner-lot sight-triangle, driveway-visibility, alley-visibility, or clear-vision standard for standard residential fences.
• Road and Floodplain Limits: County road right-of-way rules and floodplain development rules may affect where work can occur, but they do not establish a countywide residential fence-height maximum.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Residential Fence Materials: The code does not specify permitted or prohibited materials for standard residential fences.
• Specific Materials: The code does not publish a standard residential rule for wood, vinyl, chain link, masonry, barbed wire, electric fencing, or battery-charged fencing.
• Finished Side: The code does not specify a finished-side or orientation requirement for standard residential fences.
• Floodplain Construction Context: The floodplain code contains construction standards for floodplain development, new construction, substantial improvements, manufactured homes, utilities, and drainage-related development in Special Flood Hazard Areas. It does not publish a separate residential fence material standard.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private restrictions operate independently of county fence rules. Subdivision covenants, HOA rules, deed restrictions, private easements, architectural-review covenants, agricultural agreements, and boundary agreements may be more restrictive than the county’s published requirements.
Ordinance No. 2021-005 also states that nothing in that ordinance prevents municipalities or subdivisions from imposing their own zoning regulations, building regulations, or building codes.
The Flood Damage Prevention Code for Cleburne County, Arkansas states that it does not repeal, abrogate, or impair existing easements, covenants, or deed restrictions, and that the more stringent restriction applies where there is a conflict or overlap.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Road Right-of-Way Encroachments: Construction within a Cleburne County road right-of-way requires written permission from the Cleburne County Judge.
• County Maintained Roads: Placement of a line, pipeline, pole, conduit, facility, apparatus, or other matter upon or within a County Maintained Road, right-of-way, or road easement is reviewed under Ordinance No. 2025-20.
• Utility Placement: Utility work in county road rights-of-way is reviewed through the county utility-permit framework and the Cleburne County Road Department where the ordinance requires Road Department approval.
• Culverts: Replacement or installation of a culvert onto a county road is reviewed through the Cleburne County Road Department process described in County Code Chapter 12.
• Floodplain Development: Development in a Special Flood Hazard Area is reviewed through the Floodplain Development Permit process. Listed development activities include structural development, placement of manufactured structures, clearing, grading, mining, drilling, dredging, placement of fill, excavating, watercourse alteration, drainage improvements, roadway or bridge construction, individual water or sewer installations, and other development.
• Private Restrictions: Covenants, deed restrictions, easements, subdivision restrictions, and HOA rules may create separate limits that are not replaced by county fence rules.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Cleburne County, 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 the County Judge’s Office and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Cleburne County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.