FENCE RULES – WHITE (COUNTY), ARKANSAS
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within White County, subject to local regulations. This page applies to properties in the unincorporated areas of White County; incorporated municipalities may regulate fences under their own ordinances.
The White County materials do not create a consolidated residential fence code. Fence-related context appears indirectly in the White County Code of Ordinances, including the reserved building and planning/zoning articles in Chapter 13, the Flood Damage Prevention Program in Chapter 2, public works and utility provisions in Chapter 11, and county road, right-of-way, and drainage provisions in Chapter 12.
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 White County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13; White County About; White County Clerk; White County Judge; White County Road Department; and White County Office of Emergency Management as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
White County is governed by the White County Quorum Court and administered through the White County Judge, White County Clerk, and relevant county offices.
The White County Code of Ordinances does not include a standalone residential fence article. Chapter 13, Article I, Building is reserved, and Chapter 13, Article II, Planning / Zoning contains general Arkansas planning and zoning enabling authority but does not publish local residential fence standards.
The White County Judge administers ordinances enacted by the Quorum Court and operates the county road system. The White County Road Department maintains county roads and administers work and development within public road rights-of-way. The White County Office of Emergency Management is the county office identified with floodplain-related emergency management functions.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Fence Permit: The White County Code of Ordinances does not publish a local fence permit requirement for standard residential fences in the unincorporated county.
• Building Permit: The White County materials do not identify a county building department or county building-permit process for standard residential fences. Because Chapter 13, Article I, Building is reserved and no local building-permit process is published for fences, the county materials do not identify a county building permit requirement for standard residential fencing or a local county permit path for taller residential fences.
• Zoning Permit: The code does not publish a fence-specific zoning permit, zoning certificate, or zoning approval requirement for standard residential fences in the unincorporated county. Chapter 13, Article II, Planning / Zoning is reserved after general Arkansas planning and zoning authority.
• Floodplain Review: The Flood Damage Prevention Program applies within Special Flood Hazard Areas in White County. Construction, location, substantial alteration, or change in use of a structure or land must comply with the floodplain ordinance, and the ordinance controls floodplain development such as clearing, grading, excavating, fill, drainage improvements, and flood barriers.
• County Road and Right-of-Way Work: The White County Road Department administers work and development within the public road right-of-way. Work that cuts into an improved county road, shoulder, ditch bank, or back slope, or that places physical objects in county ditches or road drainage systems, is not treated as ordinary private-yard fence placement and is subject to the county’s road and drainage rules.
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: The White County Road Department administers work and development within public road rights-of-way. A fence location that enters or affects a county road right-of-way is subject to that right-of-way framework.
• County Roads, Ditches, and Drainage Systems: Chapter 12 restricts cutting into improved county roads, including the road bed, shoulder, ditch banks, and back slope, without county consent. It also regulates placement of physical objects in county ditches and road drainage systems.
• Floodplain Areas: In Special Flood Hazard Areas, the Flood Damage Prevention Program controls development activities that may affect flood elevations, floodwater velocities, flood discharge patterns, drainage improvements, and flood barriers.
• 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 Height: The code does not specify a maximum height for standard residential fences in unincorporated White County.
• Front, Side, and Rear Yards: The code does not specify different residential fence height limits for front yards, side yards, or rear yards.
• Sight Triangles and Clear Vision: The code does not publish a fence-specific sight triangle, clear-vision area, driveway visibility rule, alley visibility rule, or corner-lot fence visibility standard for standard residential fences.
• Floodplain Context: The Flood Damage Prevention Program regulates floodplain development and flood barriers in Special Flood Hazard Areas, but it does not publish a fence-specific residential height limit.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Residential Fence Materials: The code does not specify permitted or prohibited materials for standard residential fences.
• Chain Link, Wood, Vinyl, Masonry, and Metal Fences: The code does not publish separate residential material standards for chain link, wood, vinyl, masonry, metal, or similar fence types.
• Barbed Wire and Electric Fences: The code does not publish a residential barbed-wire fence rule or residential electric-fence rule for standard single-family fencing.
• Finished Side and Orientation: The code does not specify a finished-side orientation requirement for standard residential fences.
• Flood Barriers: The Flood Damage Prevention Program regulates construction of flood barriers that unnaturally divert floodwaters or adversely impact other lands in Special Flood Hazard Areas. That rule is floodplain-specific and is not a general residential fence-material standard.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private restrictions operate independently from county ordinances. HOAs, subdivision covenants, deed restrictions, private easements, boundary agreements, agricultural agreements, or private architectural-review covenants may be more restrictive than the public county rules.
The Flood Damage Prevention Program states that it does not 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:
• No Published County Fence Permit: The county materials do not identify a local fence permit or building-permit process for standard residential fences in unincorporated White County.
• Floodplain Development: Fence-related work in a Special Flood Hazard Area may be reviewed under the Flood Damage Prevention Program when it involves construction, location, alteration, excavation, fill, drainage improvements, flood barriers, or other regulated development.
• County Road Right-of-Way: Fence placement or related work that enters or affects a county road right-of-way may be reviewed through the White County Road Department framework for work and development within public road rights-of-way.
• County Ditches and Road Drainage Systems: Fence-related work that cuts into road shoulders, ditch banks, back slopes, or county drainage systems may be reviewed under the county road and drainage rules.
• Private Restrictions: Easements, covenants, deed restrictions, and private agreements may create restrictions that are separate from county ordinance review.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within White 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 White County Judge’s Office, the White County Road Department, the White County Office of Emergency Management, and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from White County staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.