FENCE RULES – BOONE (COUNTY), ARKANSAS
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Boone County, subject to local regulations. This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of Boone County; incorporated municipalities may regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Boone County does not publish a consolidated residential fence code. The local materials reviewed place relevant county authority in the Boone County Code of Ordinances, including Chapter 13 for urban and rural development, Chapter 12 for roads and transportation, Chapter 11 for public works, and the county government pages for the County Judge, County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, and Quorum Court.
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 Boone County Code of Ordinances Chapter 1 – General Provisions, Chapter 2 – Administration, Chapter 6 – Agriculture and Livestock, Chapter 7 – Animals, Chapter 8 – Community Services, Chapter 9 – Emergency Services, Chapter 10 – Human Services, Chapter 11 – Public Works, Chapter 12 – Roads and Transportation, Chapter 13 – Urban / Rural Development, Boone County Government, Boone County Clerk, Boone County Circuit Clerk, Boone County Judge, Boone County Quorum Court, Road & Bridge, and Cities & Towns as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Boone County is governed by the Boone County Quorum Court and administered through the county offices identified on the Boone County Government website.
The Boone County Quorum Court is the county legislative body and reviews ordinances and resolutions for passage. The Boone County Judge administers ordinances enacted by the quorum court, operates the county road system, and serves as chief executive officer of county government.
The Boone County Clerk serves as secretary to the Quorum Court and maintains county court records. The Boone County Circuit Clerk serves as ex-officio county recorder for deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, and other property-related instruments.
The county code does not establish a standalone fence ordinance. Chapter 13, Article I, Building, is reserved. Chapter 13, Article II, Planning / Zoning, includes general county planning and zoning authority and an interim land use policy plan, but it does not publish a fence-specific zoning code for standard residential fences.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• County Fence Permit: The county code does not publish a local fence permit requirement for standard residential fences in the unincorporated areas of Boone County.
• County Building Permit: Chapter 13, Article I, Building, is reserved. Boone County does not identify a county building department, county building-permit page, or county building-permit process for standard residential fences in the county materials reviewed.
• Planning / Zoning Approval: Chapter 13, Article II, Planning / Zoning, recognizes general county planning and zoning authority and adopts an interim land use policy plan, but the code does not specify a zoning permit, fence-specific zoning approval, setback review, or site-plan review requirement for standard residential fences.
• Road, Right-of-Way, or Public Works Approval: The county materials reviewed do not publish a fence-specific right-of-way permit, driveway gate approval, encroachment permit, or public works approval requirement for standard residential fences.
• Floodplain or Drainage Approval: Chapter 13 includes watercourse, drainage, irrigation, and flood-control services authority, but the code does not specify a residential fence floodplain permit, drainage permit, or fence-specific drainage approval requirement.
• Historic or Design Review: The county materials reviewed do not specify a historic district, design-review district, certificate of appropriateness, or architectural approval requirement for standard residential fences in unincorporated Boone County.
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 Roads: The county code contains road and addressing provisions, but it does not state a fence-specific setback, gate, driveway, or clear-access standard for fences along county roads.
• Easements and Flood-Control Interests: Chapter 13 recognizes county authority related to lands, interests, easements, or servitudes for flood-control improvements, but it does not publish a standard residential fence placement rule for those areas.
• Subdivision or Plat Restrictions: The county code does not specify a county residential fence setback, building line, or plat-based fence placement standard for standard single-family 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 in unincorporated Boone County.
• Front Yard, Side Yard, and Rear Yard Height: The code does not specify separate front yard, side yard, or rear yard fence height limits for standard residential fences.
• Corner Lots and Intersections: The code does not specify a fence sight-triangle, clear-vision, corner-lot visibility, or intersection visibility standard for standard residential fences.
• Driveways and Gates: The code does not specify a driveway-visibility, gate-setback, or gate-swing standard for standard residential fences.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Residential Fence 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 barbed-wire, electric-fence, or battery-charged fence rule for standard single-family residential lots.
• Finished Side or Orientation: The code does not specify a finished-side, good-side-out, or fence-orientation requirement for standard residential fences.
• Walls, Columns, and Masonry Fences: The code does not specify separate construction standards for residential walls, masonry fences, columns, or similar fence structures.
• Maintenance: The county materials reviewed do not publish a residential fence maintenance standard specific to standard single-family fences.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private restrictions operate independently from county fence rules. Subdivision covenants, HOA rules, deed restrictions, private easements, road-maintenance agreements, agricultural agreements, boundary agreements, or recorded instruments may be more restrictive than the Boone County rules summarized here.
The Boone County Circuit Clerk records deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, and other property-related instruments, but private restrictions are not treated as county fence approvals unless an official county source says so.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Unincorporated County Location: This page applies to unincorporated Boone County. Properties inside incorporated municipalities may be subject to municipal fence rules instead of county-only standards.
• County Ordinance Administration: The Boone County Judge administers ordinances enacted by the Boone County Quorum Court.
• Property Boundaries and Recorded Instruments: Property-line disputes, easements, covenants, and recorded private restrictions may involve recorded property documents rather than a county fence ordinance.
• Road and Addressing Context: County road and addressing rules exist, but the county code does not publish a fence-specific visibility, driveway, gate, or right-of-way standard for standard residential fences.
• Flood-Control and Easement Context: The county code recognizes flood-control and easement authority, but it does not publish a residential fence floodplain permit or drainage approval rule.
• Local Specifications: The code does not specify local residential fence height limits, material restrictions, finished-side rules, sight-triangle standards, pool-barrier standards, or historic/design-review approvals for standard residential fences in unincorporated Boone County.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Boone 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 Boone County Judge’s Office and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Boone County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.