FENCE RULES – MAUMELLE (CITY), ARKANSAS

OVERVIEW

Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Maumelle, subject to local regulations. For properties located outside City of Maumelle municipal limits, Pulaski County regulates fences in unincorporated areas.

Local fence rules appear primarily in the Maumelle City Code, especially Chapter 14, Article IV, Fences. Related controls also appear in the City’s visibility-at-intersections rules, flood damage prevention rules, stormwater and erosion-control provisions, swimming-pool fence provisions, and Planning & Permits Department materials.

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 Maumelle City Code, Planning & Permits Department materials, the Building, Code Enforcement & Permits page, the Permit Applications page, the Frequently Asked Questions page, and the Current Maumelle Codes notice as of May 2026.

GOVERNANCE

The City of Maumelle regulates residential fences through the Maumelle City Code and administers fence review through the department of code enforcement/permits and the Planning & Permits Department.

The city does not rely only on a general zoning setback framework for residential fences. It has a dedicated fence article that addresses fence permits, placement, materials, height, gates, drainage, inspection, maintenance, and pool-fence requirements.

The Planning Commission is identified as the variance body when a fence permit is denied. The office of code enforcement/permits is identified as the enforcing office for swimming-pool fence provisions.

The Planning & Permits Department also identifies retained enforcement areas that may affect some fence projects, including All State of Arkansas Building Codes, Storm Water Drainage, Storm Water Pollution and Erosion Control, and Swimming Pools.

PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

• Fence Permit Required: A permit is required before any person erects, constructs, enlarges, alters, or replaces a fence regulated by Chapter 14, Article IV. The code requires a separate permit for each residential lot.

• Permit Application Content: A residential fence permit application must show the proposed fence location, height, materials, construction method, dimensions, drainage structures, lot lines, and other relevant details.

• Property-Line Marking: The applicant must flag or mark the property lines and proposed fence boundaries in a way that clearly shows the proposed fence location and proximity to property lines. The applicant must request verification by a code enforcement/permit officer before permit issuance.

• Corner-Lot Street-Facing Side Yards: A fence or screen proposed in a side yard facing a street on a corner lot is subject to review by the department responsible for enforcing the fence article. That review considers traffic hazard, view obstruction from adjoining lots, proposed fence material, and construction method.

• Completion and Inspection: Applicants must notify the city when the fence is complete, and the structure is inspected for compliance with the approved permit. Fences and fence repairs must be completed within six weeks after construction begins.

• Residential Height Variance: A fence on a residential lot may not exceed six feet in height unless a variance has been specifically granted by the department of code enforcement/permits.

• Denied Fence Permit: If a fence permit is denied, the applicant may apply to the Planning Commission for a variance from the fence article.

• Swimming Pools: A swimming pool with, or designed to have, a filtration system must be enclosed by a fence or approved barrier at least 48 inches high. The pool fence must meet other applicable city ordinance requirements, and the more stringent provision controls where the city’s swimming-pool fence division conflicts with the adopted pool code.

• Retaining Walls: The Planning & Permits Department lists retaining walls over 4 feet tall as permit-required.

• Floodplain Development: In a special flood hazard area, the flood damage prevention article requires a floodplain development permit before development begins. Fence work in those areas may require floodplain review when the work involves structural development, fill, excavation, drainage improvements, or other regulated development activity.

FENCE PLACEMENT RULES

• Front Building Line: A fence or screen must not extend beyond the front building line on any lot, including corner lots.

• Property Lines: No fence may extend beyond a property line. The fence article does not state a separate setback requirement for standard residential fences from property lines, but fences must remain within the property boundaries.

• Corner Lots: A fence or screen in a side yard facing a street on a corner lot requires a finding by the enforcing department that the proposed fence does not violate the city’s traffic-hazard, view-obstruction, material, or construction-method concerns.

• Intersection Visibility: At intersecting streets, including private streets and vehicular access easements, a fence, hedge, shrubbery, natural growth, sign, or other obstruction may not exceed 30 inches above the center of the adjacent intersection within the required triangular visibility area.

• Visibility Triangle Measurement: The visibility area extends 25 feet parallel to the edge of each street curb, shoulder, or pavement line, with the third side connecting those points.

• Drainage Flow: A fence may not restrict the flow of water. A fence in a stormwater drain path must have at least 2 inches of clearance above finished grade so water can flow under the fence.

• Open Ditches: No fence may be constructed within 10 feet of the top of the backslope of an open ditch.

• Swimming Pools: A required pool fence or approved barrier must fully enclose the swimming pool.

• 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

• Residential Fence Height: A fence on a residential lot may not be more than six feet tall unless a variance has been specifically granted by the department of code enforcement/permits.

• Street-Adjacent Fences: Any fence adjacent to a street may not be taller than six feet.

• Pool Fence Height: A required swimming-pool fence or approved barrier must be at least 48 inches high.

• Intersection Obstructions: Fences, hedges, shrubbery, natural growth, signs, and other obstructions may not exceed 30 inches above the center of the adjacent intersection within the 25-foot triangular visibility area.

• View and Traffic Review: For side-yard fences facing a street on corner lots, the enforcing department reviews traffic hazard, view obstruction from adjoining lots, proposed material, and construction method before issuing the permit.

MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS

• Standard Residential Materials: It is unlawful to erect, construct, place, or have a residential fence, wall, or external barrier made of metal, steel, plastic, wire, concrete block, or any other non-wooden substance, except as allowed by the fence article.

• Wood Fence Fasteners: Wooden fences may contain metal or steel fasteners needed for erection, construction, or placement.

• Allowed Exceptions: The code allows fences made primarily of decorative wrought iron, simulated wooden or composite materials designed as fencing, brick, or large rock.

• Large Rock Definition: Crushed rock, sand, gravel, and pebbles do not count as rock for this rule. Large rock means rock at least 6 inches thick at its widest points.

• Concrete Block Exception: Colored or decorative concrete block walls are allowed if the blocks are completely painted and erected in a uniform, consistent pattern throughout the wall.

• Durability: All fencing material must be resistant to disease and decay or treated to prevent disease and decay.

• Consistent Style: Fencing on any side of a lot must be of a consistent style.

• Finished Side: Any fence adjacent to a street or public area must have the more finished side facing out, unless more restrictive development, subdivision, or property-owners-association standards require a different material. The finished side is the side where framing, supports, or posts are less visible. A double-sided fence that is equally finished on both sides is acceptable.

• Gate Requirement: All fences must have at least one gate for emergency ingress and egress. The minimum gate width is 3 feet.

• Rear and Side Yard Gate Width: No gate wider than 5 feet may be constructed in a rear or side yard fence when vehicular access is not permitted from that direction.

• Maintenance: Existing and new fences, and all parts of them, must be maintained in a safe, structurally sound condition and in an orderly appearance. Fences must be free from loose or rotting materials and must have braces and supports attached or fastened according to common building practices.

• Connections to Existing Fences: A fence may not be connected to a rotten or failing fence, and may not be connected to an existing fence in a way that causes or precipitates damage to the existing fence.

• Completion Timing: Fences and repairs must be completed within six weeks after construction begins.

PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS

Development standards, subdivision restrictions, property-owners-association rules, HOA covenants, deed restrictions, private easements, architectural-review covenants, and private boundary agreements operate independently from city fence rules and may be more restrictive.

The city fence article expressly allows a development, subdivision, or property owners association to adopt more restrictive fence standards, as long as those standards do not conflict with the city’s standards.

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 Review: Erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, or replacing a regulated residential fence without first obtaining the required fence permit.

• Permit Consistency: Building a fence contrary to the representations on the approved fence permit.

• Height: Constructing a residential fence over six feet tall without the required variance.

• Front Building Line: Placing a fence or screen beyond the front building line.

• Property Line: Constructing a fence beyond the property line.

• Corner-Lot Review: Constructing a side-yard fence facing a street on a corner lot without satisfying the city’s traffic-hazard, view-obstruction, material, and construction-method review.

• Intersection Visibility: Maintaining a fence, hedge, shrubbery, natural growth, sign, or other obstruction above 30 inches in the required 25-foot triangular visibility area.

• Drainage: Restricting water flow, failing to maintain 2 inches of clearance in a stormwater drain path, or placing a fence within 10 feet of the top of the backslope of an open ditch.

• Materials: Using prohibited residential fence materials or failing to comply with approved exceptions for wrought iron, simulated wood or composite fencing, brick, large rock, or painted decorative concrete block.

• Finished Side and Style: Failing to maintain a consistent fence style or placing the unfinished side toward a street or public area where the finished-side rule applies.

• Gate Access: Failing to provide the required emergency ingress and egress gate, or constructing a rear or side yard gate wider than 5 feet where vehicular access is not permitted.

• Maintenance: Keeping a fence in an unsafe, structurally unsound, loose, rotting, disorderly, or damaging condition.

• Pool Barriers: Failing to enclose a swimming pool with, or designed to have, a filtration system using a fence or approved barrier at least 48 inches high.

• Floodplain Review: Beginning regulated development in a special flood hazard area without the required floodplain development permit.

USING THIS INFORMATION

This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Maumelle, 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 Planning & Permits Department and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Maumelle staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.