FENCE RULES – MADISON (COUNTY), ARKANSAS
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within Madison County, subject to local regulations. This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of Madison County; incorporated municipalities may regulate fences under their own ordinances.
Madison County does not publish a consolidated residential fence ordinance. Fence-related review issues appear instead in the Code of Madison County, including the subdivision regulations, flood damage prevention program, road and addressing provisions, and animal-control provisions for exotic, vicious, or wild animals.
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 Madison County official website, Madison County Clerk and Quorum Court materials, Code of Madison County Chapter 13 – Urban / Rural Development, Chapter 2 – Administration, Chapter 7 – Animals, and Chapter 12 – Roads / Transportation as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Madison County is governed by the Madison County Quorum Court and administered through county offices including the County Judge’s Office, County Clerk’s Office, and other county officials identified in the county code and official website.
The County Clerk serves as secretary to the Quorum Court and maintains county ordinances, minutes, resolutions, county-court records, and related public records.
The county code does not create a single fence-review office for standard residential fences. Relevant administration depends on the issue:
• Subdivision Review: The review committee, Madison County Quorum Court, and Madison County Judge’s Office administer subdivision plat procedures under Chapter 13, § 1320.01.
• Floodplain Review: The Madison County 9-1-1 Coordinator is designated as the Floodplain Administrator for the county flood damage prevention program.
• Animal-Control Review: Police officers, local law enforcement, and health officials may review enclosure or protective-barrier requirements for exotic, vicious, or wild animals under Chapter 7, § 700.00.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• County Fence Permit: The county code does not publish a local fence permit requirement for standard residential fences.
• County Building Permit Process: The county code does not identify a general county building-permit process for standard residential fences and does not identify a local process for taller residential fences.
• Floodplain Development Permit: A Development Permit is required for development in areas of special flood hazard under the county flood damage prevention program. Development includes man-made changes to improved or unimproved real estate, including buildings or other structures, filling, grading, excavation, drilling operations, and storage of equipment or materials.
• Subdivision Approval: The subdivision regulations require review and approval of preliminary and final plats for covered subdivisions in unincorporated Madison County. This is a subdivision and land-development process, not a standard fence permit.
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.
• Subdivision Plats: The subdivision regulations require plats to show roads, streets, alleys, easements, building lines, underground utilities, and notice of restrictive covenants. The code does not state that subdivision building setback lines are fence setback lines.
• Easements: The subdivision regulations define easements as grants of use over strips of land for specific purposes. Utility easements must be provided where necessary and must be at least 10 feet wide. Drainage easements must be adequate in width and include at least 20 feet on both sides of the centerline of the watercourse.
• Flood Hazard Areas: In areas of special flood hazard, fence work that involves development under the flood damage prevention program is subject to the county’s Development Permit requirement.
• Animal Enclosures: For exotic, vicious, or wild animals, the county animal-control ordinance may require warning signs, enclosures, protective barriers, cages, chains, or a secondary fence. These requirements apply to the animal-control context and are not ordinary residential fence placement standards.
• 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 Fence Height: The code does not specify a maximum height for standard residential fences.
• Subdivision Street Intersections: In subdivision street design, anything that obstructs view, including shrubs, is not permitted within 20 feet of a street intersection. The code does not publish a separate standard residential fence sight-triangle rule.
• Animal-Control Fence Height: In the exotic, vicious, or wild-animal context, when additional protective measures require a secondary fence, the secondary fence must be at least 8 feet high and at least 3 feet from the primary enclosure.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Standard Residential Materials: The code does not specify permitted or prohibited materials for standard residential fences.
• Finished Side / Orientation: The code does not specify a finished-side or fence-orientation requirement for standard residential fences.
• Barbed Wire and Electric Fencing: The code does not publish a general residential barbed-wire or electric-fence standard. Barbed wire appears only in the animal-control enclosure provision for exotic, vicious, or wild animals.
• Animal-Control Enclosure Construction: Where the exotic, vicious, or wild-animal provision requires a secondary fence, it must be at least 3 feet from the primary enclosure, at least 8 feet high, and include a 3-foot concrete slab at least 1 foot deep at the base of the fence with the fence centered on the slab. A lean-in is described with at least 3 strands of barbwire, separated by at least 4 inches and not more than 5 inches.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private restrictions operate separately from county fence rules. These may include subdivision covenants, deed restrictions, HOA rules, private easements, agricultural agreements, boundary agreements, or architectural-review covenants.
The subdivision regulations require restrictive covenants to be presented during subdivision review and filed with the final plat when applicable. Private restrictions may be more restrictive than county rules.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Floodplain Development: Development in areas of special flood hazard requiring review by the Floodplain Administrator.
• Subdivision Constraints: Subdivision plat conditions involving easements, building lines, underground utilities, drainage easements, and restrictive covenants.
• Intersection Visibility: Obstructions within 20 feet of a subdivision street intersection.
• Animal-Control Enclosures: Complaint-based review involving exotic, vicious, or wild animals where warning signs, enclosures, protective barriers, or secondary fencing may be required.
• Easement and Right-of-Way Conflicts: Fence placement that conflicts with recorded easements, subdivision plats, drainage easements, utility easements, or public rights-of-way.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within Madison 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 Madison County Judge’s Office, the Madison County 9-1-1 Coordinator where floodplain status is involved, and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from Madison County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.