FENCE RULES – FALLON (CITY), NEVADA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Fallon, subject to local regulations.
In the Fallon Municipal Code, fence standards are not collected in a single standalone fence chapter. The main rules appear in Title 17, Building and Construction, and Title 21, Zoning, with additional property-maintenance standards in Chapter 8.12.
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 the Fallon Municipal Code, City of Fallon Homeowner Building Permits, City of Fallon Business Licenses & Building Permits, and the City Building Department Permit Application as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The governing authority is the City of Fallon. Fence regulation is administered through the Fallon Municipal Code, including Title 17, Building and Construction, Title 21, Zoning, and Chapter 8.12, Abatement of Nuisances.
The City Building Department handles building permit materials. Chapter 17.08 assigns construction-permit review to the city engineer, and Title 21 contains the zoning standards that apply to fences in residential districts.
The City Council acts as the review board for the historic districts regulated under Chapter 21.62.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Building Permit: The City of Fallon requires a construction permit before constructing or commencing construction of a fence. Chapter 17.08 defines construction to include the erection of a fence, sign, building, or other structure.
• Permit Office: Building permit materials are handled through the City Building Department. The permit application is a general City building permit application, not a separate fence-only form.
• Zoning Compliance: Fence permits must comply with Title 21, Zoning, before issuance. The code does not publish a separate zoning permit requirement for standard residential fences.
• Right-of-Way or Easement Permit: A fence or wall may not be located in or extended into a public right-of-way or easement unless a revocable permit has been issued by the city engineer through the building department.
• Historic District Review: In the City’s historic districts, Chapter 21.62 requires permit and review-board approval for construction or alteration of applicable buildings or structures when the work changes the appearance of the building or structure.
• Private Restrictions: The City of Fallon building permit application states that the City does not enforce CC&Rs.
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.
• Required Yards: Fences and walls located in required yards are subject to the height limits in Chapter 21.28.
• Common Lot Lines: When a fence is built on a common lot line, the more restrictive fence-height requirement applies to the common portion between lots.
• Rights-of-Way and Easements: A fence or wall may not be placed in or extended into a public right-of-way or easement without a revocable permit. Covered service corridors include roads, alleys, drainage courses, sewer, water, power, gas, telephone, and cablevision corridors.
• Utility Safety: Nevada law requires underground utility notification through Nevada 811 before excavation. For fence projects that involve digging, including fence post holes, notice must be provided before excavation begins.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• General Required-Yard Height: In residence-district fence standards, fences and walls in required yards must not exceed 6 feet unless a listed exception applies.
• Front Yards and Corner-Lot Clear Vision Zones: Fences in a required front yard or in the clear vision zone of a corner lot must not exceed 3 feet.
• Chain Link Exception: A 4-foot nonvisual barrier, such as chain link, may be used where the code otherwise requires a 3-foot fence.
• Clear Vision Zone Measurement: The clear vision zone is a triangular area at the intersection of a street with another street, alley, or railroad, measured by points 20 feet from the intersecting lot lines.
• Intersecting Alleys: At the clear vision zone created by two intersecting alleys, a fence may graduate from 3 feet at the intersecting lot lines to 6 feet over a 20-foot distance, or may use the diagonal-fence configuration described in the code.
• Attractive Nuisances: A yard with a swimming pool or similar attractive nuisance that cannot be effectively contained or protected by itself must be protected by a fence 8 feet high.
• Height Measurement: Fence height is measured from finished ground level immediately adjacent to the fence or visual obstruction to the top of the fence or obstruction, from either side.
• Outside Required Yards: The code does not specify a separate maximum height for standard residential fences outside required yards.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Residential Materials: The code does not specify a list of permitted standard residential fence materials.
• Barbed Wire: Barbed-wire fences in required yards are prohibited in all zoning districts except by variance.
• Chain Link: Chain link is recognized as a nonvisual barrier that may be used up to 4 feet where a 3-foot fence is otherwise required.
• Electric or Battery-Charged Fences: The code does not publish a local standard for electric fences or battery-charged fences in standard residential fence sections.
• Condition and Maintenance: Fencing, screen walls, retaining walls, and barricades that are unsound, damaged, or in disrepair are treated as nuisance conditions under Chapter 8.12.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
HOAs, CC&Rs, deed restrictions, private development standards, and private agreements operate independently from City fence rules and may be more restrictive. Title 21 states that stricter private covenants or deed restrictions are not superseded, and the City building permit application states that the City of Fallon does not enforce CC&Rs.
REVIEW AND ENFORCEMENT CONTEXT
Fence issues are typically reviewed during permit or approval review when required, and through complaint-based code enforcement. Examples include:
• Construction Without Permit: Fence construction started without the construction permit required by Chapter 17.08.
• Height or Visibility Conflicts: Fences over 6 feet in required yards, fences over 3 feet in required front yards or corner-lot clear vision zones, or fences that do not meet the applicable clear-vision configuration.
• Attractive Nuisance Barriers: Swimming pools or similar attractive nuisances that require an 8-foot fence when not otherwise effectively contained or protected.
• Right-of-Way or Easement Encroachments: Fences or walls placed in public rights-of-way or easements without the required revocable permit.
• Prohibited Materials: Barbed-wire fences in required yards without a variance.
• Condition and Maintenance: Fencing, screen walls, retaining walls, or barricades that are unsound, damaged, or in disrepair.
• Historic District Work: Construction or alteration of applicable buildings or structures in a Chapter 21.62 historic district when permit and review-board approval are required.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Fallon, based on publicly available ordinances and department guidance current as of May 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Nevada laws apply statewide. See Statewide Fence Laws in Nevada.
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, and private restrictions such as HOA covenants. Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, confirm current requirements and any site-specific limitations with City Building Department and the city engineer and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Fallon staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.