FENCE RULES – GERING (CITY), NEBRASKA
OVERVIEW
Residential fences are permitted on private property within City of Gering, subject to local regulations.
Local fence rules appear in the Gering Zoning Regulations, the City of Gering Fence Permit Application, fence permit guidance, the Gering Code of Ordinances, adopted building-code materials, floodplain regulations, and subdivision regulations. The Gering Zoning Regulations apply within the incorporated area of the City and within the City’s two-mile planning and zoning jurisdiction.
This page focuses on typical single-family residential fencing, including rural residential and agricultural residential contexts where applicable. 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 City of Gering Engineering & Planning materials, Gering Zoning Regulations revised November 25, 2024, City of Gering Fence Permit Application, Gering Code of Ordinances, City of Gering subdivision regulations, Ordinance No. 2086 adopting the 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code, and floodplain regulation materials as of May 2026.
GOVERNANCE
The City of Gering regulates residential fences through its zoning, building, permit, public utility, floodplain, and subdivision rules.
The City does not use one single consolidated residential fence code. Fence rules appear mainly in Section 5.4, Fences, Walls and Hedges, of the Gering Zoning Regulations, supplemented by the City’s fence permit application and permit guidance.
The City of Gering Engineering & Planning Department, Development Services Department, Building Inspector, Zoning Administrator, and City Engineer are the local offices and officials most directly connected to fence permitting, zoning review, building-code context, floodplain administration, and site-specific review.
The Gering Zoning Regulations apply to the incorporated area of the City of Gering and to the City’s two-mile planning and zoning jurisdiction.
PERMIT AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
• Fence Permit / Building Permit: A permit is required before a fence is constructed or altered within the zoning jurisdiction of the City of Gering. The City’s fence permit guidance states that no fence may be constructed or altered until a building permit has been procured from the Building Inspector.
• Fence Permit Application: The fence permit application requires the work address, owner information, fence erector information, whether the property is a corner lot or inside lot, fence height by yard area, fence type, total fence length, estimated valuation, permit fee information, and Building Inspector approval.
• Site Plan / Sketch: The fence permit application requires a small sketch showing the location and height of the fence relative to lot lines. The permit guidance also directs applicants to bring the Fence Permit Application and Site Plan to the Development Services Department before construction.
• Inspection: The City of Gering fence permit application states that inspection is required.
• Easement, Right-of-Way, and Setback Disclosure: The fence permit application asks whether the fence is being built in or encroaching into a utility easement, right-of-way, or setback.
• Floodplain Development Permit: Where fence work is located in a mapped floodplain area and qualifies as floodplain development or construction, a floodplain development permit is required before the work begins. The City Engineer is the local floodplain administrator.
• Historic and Overlay Context: The HSD Scotts Bluff National Monument Historic Site District contains height limits for structures and signs. The code does not publish a separate residential fence certificate of appropriateness or historic design-review approval requirement for standard residential fences.
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.
• Public Right-of-Way: Fences, walls, and hedges are not allowed in the public right-of-way.
• Utility Easements and Utility Access: Fences, shrubs, hedges, and trees must not interfere with the operation or maintenance of City utility services.
• Water Shutoff Access: City utility language states that no permanent foundations should be placed within 4 feet of a water shutoff.
• Meter Access: Easy access is required for meter reading. Remote reading devices may be required and installed at the property owner’s cost when directed by the City Utility Department Head.
• Utility Repair Access: If the City removes a fence, shrub, hedge, or tree for utility repair or maintenance, the property owner is responsible for removal or replacement.
• Electrical Equipment Clearance: City utility notice materials state that shrubs and structures must be kept 10 feet from the front side of the device and 3 feet from all other sides.
• Corner Lots: Corner lots are subject to primary and secondary front yard treatment, corner visibility limits, and the City’s corner triangular sight-distance restriction.
• Floodplain Areas: In mapped floodplain areas, fence placement must satisfy both the underlying zoning district rules and applicable floodplain development standards.
• Utility Safety: Nebraska law requires notice through Nebraska 811 before excavation begins. For fence projects that involve digging, including fence post holes, notice generally must be given at least 2 full business days and not more than 10 business days before excavation begins, subject to limited exceptions.
FENCE HEIGHT AND VISIBILITY RULES
• Front Yard and Corner Side Yard Permit Guidance: Current City fence permit guidance for residential areas allows only open fences in the front yard and, on corner lots, the side yard adjacent to the street. That fence permit guidance states a maximum height of 42 inches for those locations.
• Adopted Zoning Height Reference: The adopted Gering Zoning Regulations state a 48-inch maximum height for fences, walls, or hedges within the required front yard setback or within the primary or secondary front yard of a corner lot in residential zones. Because the current fence permit guidance states a lower 42-inch limit for residential front yard and corner side yard fences, the lower fence permit guidance is reflected in this residential guide.
• Interior Side Yard and Rear Yard: In residential areas, a solid privacy fence or open fence is allowed in other yards up to 6 feet in height.
• Height Measurement: The adopted zoning regulations measure fence, wall, and hedge height from the average grade of the ground, measured within 18 inches on either side of the fence, wall, or hedge.
• Corner Sight Triangle: The adopted zoning regulations require the corner triangular sight distance to be maintained. Within that corner sight-distance area, the maximum fence height is 30 inches, measured from the front corner property line point of intersection. The incorporated residential fence diagram shows a 50-foot corner sight-distance area.
• Required Front Yard Visibility: In a required front yard, no fence or wall may materially impede vision across the yard above 30 inches. No hedge or other vegetation may materially impede vision across the yard between 30 inches and 10 feet.
• Traffic Hazard Rule: No fence may be constructed in a manner or design that is hazardous or dangerous to persons or animals or that constitutes a traffic hazard.
• Residential Boundary With Commercial or Industrial Uses: Where a commercial or industrial zone or use abuts a residential zone, the residential fence, wall, and hedge regulations apply to a fence, wall, or hedge constructed between the commercial or industrial zone or use and the residential zone.
• Historic Site District Height Context: The HSD Scotts Bluff National Monument Historic Site District contains structure and sign height limits of one story, defined as 15 feet, within the first 150 feet west of the Five Rocks Road right-of-way line, and two stories, defined as 30 feet, in the remainder of the Historic Site District. Standard residential fence height limits are lower than those district height limits.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITS
• Open Fence Definition: The City’s fence permit guidance defines an open fence as a fence with more than 60 percent of its area see-through so that it does not obstruct vision.
• Solid Fence Definition: The City’s fence permit guidance defines a solid fence as a fence with less than 60 percent of its area see-through so that it obstructs vision.
• Front Yard Decorative Requirement: In residential zones, fences in the required front yard or in the primary front yard of a corner lot may not be chain link, wire mesh, welded wire, woven wire, or stranded wire.
• Decorative Front Yard Materials: Fences or walls within the required front yard or within the primary front yard of a corner lot side yard adjacent to a street must be decorative. Decorative fence types include split rail, pickets or slats of wood or PVC, ornamental iron, and decorative brick or block.
• Listed Fence Materials: The City’s fence permit guidance lists concrete, galvanized chain-link, masonry, vinyl, wrought iron, and wood fencing material not exceeding 6 inches in width as fence materials.
• Chain Link and Wire Ends: In residential zones, all chain link or other wire fence fabric must be installed with knuckled ends.
• Barbed Wire and Sharp-Pointed Fences: Fences with barbed ends, including barbed wire, are prohibited in residential zones. No barbed wire, other sharp-pointed fence, or electrically charged fence may be constructed or maintained.
• Finished Side Orientation: The finished surface of all fences must face outward. Structural posts and runners must be on the inside.
• Supporting Posts: Supporting posts for fence construction must be set in concrete.
• Gate Requirement: The City’s fence permit guidance states that a gate must be provided in the front and back yard.
• Building-Code Construction Standards: Fences and walls must conform to the construction standards of the building code.
• Dangerous or Dilapidated Fences: The Building Inspector may order a dilapidated or dangerous fence to be removed or repaired.
PRIVATE RESTRICTIONS
Private restrictions operate separately from City fence rules. Homeowners associations, subdivision covenants, deed restrictions, private easements, private boundary agreements, and agricultural agreements may impose stricter limits than the City’s published fence rules.
Subdivision plats may also contain building lines, easements, private restrictions, or other recorded limitations that affect fence placement. The City’s rules do not eliminate private restrictions unless an official source specifically states otherwise.
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: Construction or alteration of a fence before the required permit has been issued.
• Site Plan Review: A missing or incomplete sketch showing fence location, height, and relationship to lot lines.
• Inspection Review: Fence work subject to the inspection requirement stated on the City fence permit application.
• Height Review: Front yard or corner side yard fences exceeding the City’s current 42-inch residential fence permit guidance, or side and rear yard fences exceeding 6 feet.
• Visibility Review: Fences, walls, hedges, or vegetation that materially impede required front yard visibility or exceed the 30-inch corner triangular sight-distance limit.
• Right-of-Way Review: Fences, walls, or hedges placed in the public right-of-way.
• Utility Review: Fences, shrubs, hedges, trees, or permanent foundations that interfere with City utility operation, maintenance, water shutoff access, meter reading, or electrical equipment clearance.
• Material Review: Barbed wire, sharp-pointed fencing, electrically charged fencing, non-knuckled wire fabric, or prohibited front-yard wire fence materials in residential zones.
• Construction Review: Fences with the unfinished side facing outward, supporting posts not set in concrete, or missing gate access where the City’s permit guidance requires it.
• Floodplain Review: Fence work in a mapped floodplain area without a required floodplain development permit.
• Maintenance Review: Dilapidated or dangerous fences that the Building Inspector orders removed or repaired.
USING THIS INFORMATION
This page provides general orientation on how residential fence rules are structured and applied within City of Gering, based on publicly available materials reviewed as of May 2026.
In addition to local fence rules, certain Nebraska laws apply statewide. See Statewide Fence Laws in Nebraska.
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, 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 City of Gering Engineering & Planning Department, Development Services Department, Building Inspector, and any applicable private agreements. If this page conflicts with official ordinances, published guidance, or direction from City of Gering staff, the official sources control. For legal advice or legal interpretation, consult a licensed attorney.