FENCE RULES – FORREST CITY (CITY), ARKANSAS
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within the City of Forrest City, subject to local regulations. For properties located outside Forrest City municipal limits, St. Francis County regulates fences in unincorporated areas.
The City of Forrest City does not publish a consolidated residential fence chapter in the Forrest City Zoning Code. Fence-related context appears through the zoning code’s definitions, district regulations, rights-of-way and easement references, and the building-permit and enforcement authority assigned to the Code Enforcement Officer.
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 the Forrest City Zoning Code, City of Forrest City Code Enforcement page, City of Forrest City Public Works page, and City of Forrest City Boards and Commissions page as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
• Governing Authority: The City of Forrest City regulates land use through the Forrest City Zoning Code and the Official Zoning Map.
• Code Administration: The zoning code is administered and enforced by the Code Enforcement Officer, who is authorized to issue building permits and certificates of occupancy when compliance is made with the zoning code.
• Planning Review: The Forrest City Planning Commission and Forrest City City Council administer conditional-use and planned-unit-development review where those zoning procedures apply.
• Fence-Code Structure: The zoning code defines fence, but it does not create a standalone residential fence article or a local fence-permit section.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Local Fence Permit: The City of Forrest City does not publish a local fence permit requirement for standard residential fences.
• Building Permit: The Forrest City Zoning Code authorizes the Code Enforcement Officer to issue building permits and requires a building permit before construction, reconstruction, moving, demolition, or structural alteration of a building. The code does not state a local building-permit trigger specifically for standard residential fences. Arkansas statewide building-code exempts fences not more than seven feet from building permits where no stricter local fence permit rule is published.
• Zoning Compliance: Building permit requirements are separate from zoning, setback, or plat requirements. Confirm any applicable zoning conditions, setbacks, and plat requirements with the Code Enforcement Officer before construction.
• Other Local Approvals: The code does not publish a separate zoning permit, certificate of appropriateness, historic approval, design-review approval, floodplain permit, right-of-way permit, public works approval, utility approval, or drainage approval requirement for standard residential fences.
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.
• Residential Yard Setbacks: The zoning code establishes yard and setback requirements for buildings and zoning districts, but it does not state that those yard setbacks are residential fence setbacks.
• Rights-of-Way and Easements: The zoning code recognizes transportation and utility easements, alleys, and rights-of-way in residential zoning context, but it does not publish a fence-specific right-of-way or easement approval procedure.
• Driveways and Corner Lots: The code does not specify driveway-clearance, corner-lot visibility, gate-swing, or sight-triangle placement rules for standard residential fences.
• 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.
• Front, Side, and Rear Yards: The code does not specify separate front-yard, side-yard, or rear-yard height limits for standard residential fences.
• Visibility Rules: The code does not specify a residential fence sight-triangle rule, driveway-visibility rule, alley-visibility rule, or corner-lot visibility rule.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Fence Definition: The code defines a fence as an enclosure, barrier, or boundary usually made of post boards, wire, stakes, or rails.
• Residential Materials: The code does not specify permitted or prohibited materials for standard residential fences.
• Barbed Wire and Electric Fences: The code does not specify a residential prohibition or allowance for barbed wire, electric fences, or battery-charged fences.
• Finished Side and Orientation: The code does not specify a finished-side, decorative-side, opacity, or orientation requirement for standard residential fences.
• Maintenance: The code does not publish a standard residential fence maintenance rule separate from general code-enforcement authority.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
HOAs, subdivision covenants, deed restrictions, private easements, architectural-review covenants, agricultural agreements, boundary agreements, and private development restrictions operate independently from City of Forrest City zoning rules and may be more restrictive.
The City of Forrest City materials reviewed do not state that the City enforces private fence restrictions.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Zoning-Code Administration: The Code Enforcement Officer administers and enforces the Forrest City Zoning Code, including building-permit records, certificates, complaints of code violations, and inspections of buildings or land for zoning-code compliance.
• Property and Site Conflicts: A fence location may require review if it creates a conflict involving a property line, right-of-way, easement, zoning district condition, or other site condition governed by the code.
• Local Fence-Standard Limits: The Forrest City Zoning Code does not establish a local residential fence maximum height, yard-based fence height limit, fence visibility standard, or residential fence material standard.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within the City of Forrest City, 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 Code Enforcement Officer and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Forrest City staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.