How Tall Can a Fence Be in Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach fence height limits: 8 ft max, 4 ft in front yards and street sides, $50 permit near the road. Free quote now.
In Virginia Beach, VA, the City Zoning Ordinance caps any fence or wall at 8 feet, drops that to 4 feet inside a required front yard, and holds a side yard next to a street to 4 feet when the fence sits within 10 feet of the right-of-way. No fence may sit closer than 5 feet to a right-of-way line unless it is a maintenance-free vinyl or aluminum fence that is at least half open, and any fence within 30 feet of a public street needs a $50 zoning permit with the finished side facing the road. Yard location and distance from the street, not material, decide how tall your fence can be.
Get a free quote in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach ties fence height to where the fence sits on the lot and how close it is to the street. Front-yard runs stay at 4 feet for sightlines. Side and rear runs behind the house can go to the 8 foot citywide cap for privacy in Kempsville, Great Neck, Red Mill, or Green Run. Street-side yards on corner lots follow the 4 foot rule within 10 feet of the right-of-way, and the whole ordinance is superseded by the Oceanfront Resort District Form-Based Code for lots in the resort area.
These figures come from Sec. 201(e) of the Virginia Beach City Zoning Ordinance and match the "about 6 ft on side and rear yards, lower in front" summary on Ergeon's Virginia Beach city FAQ, which reflects what most homeowners actually build. For a national overview of height planning, see Ergeon's fence height guide, and for statewide context see Virginia fence laws. Confirm the rule for your exact address with the Planning Department before you lock a package height.
Yes, and the street setback is the rule that surprises people. No fence or wall may be built closer than 5 feet to any right-of-way line, and a fence 10 feet or closer to the right-of-way needs Category I landscaping between the fence and the street. The one exception is a maintenance-free vinyl or aluminum fence that is no more than 50 percent opaque, which may sit on the right-of-way line if landscaping runs inside its full length. A corner lot often has two street-facing sides, so the 4 foot rule can apply along both the front and the street side, and a 6 foot privacy panel is only allowed in the side setback once it is at least 10 feet back from the right-of-way.
Any fence within 30 feet of a public right-of-way, whether new, replaced, or relocated, needs a $50 zoning permit from Planning, must show its finished side to the street, and must follow the Virginia Beach Landscaping, Screening and Buffering Specifications. Fences over 6 feet also need a building permit under the Virginia construction code, and barbed wire and electrified fencing are barred in residential districts. HOA rules in Sandbridge, Ocean Lakes, and the newer Princess Anne subdivisions often sit below the city cap, so use the lower number when your covenants limit privacy fences to 6 feet.
Taller panels use more material and can change post and rail packages. Ergeon's published Virginia Beach rates put wood at about $34/ft and aluminum at about $35/ft installed (2025 averages), with vinyl priced on your quote. Recent Virginia Beach jobs include $4,728 (Patriot Ln, wood), $2,849 (Ditchley Rd, aluminum or steel), $1,429 (Clayton Ct, vinyl), and $1,267 (Whirlaway Rd, wood) across 11 completed projects since 2020.
Popular Virginia Beach wood packages include Value Dog Ear with black metal post caps, In Panel with a 1 x 4 top fascia, Picket Fence with 2 1/2 inch gaps, and 3 ft Ranch Style. Vinyl options include Solid Privacy, Picket, Privacy with Lattice, Semi Privacy shadowbox, and Ranch. Shorter 4 ft front and street-side runs fit picket, ranch, or a 50 percent open vinyl or aluminum line that can sit closer to the road. Side and rear privacy usually lands on 6 ft dog ear or solid vinyl, with 8 ft reserved for through lots and rear lines that need extra screening. Browse packages on the Virginia Beach city fence page.
Start on the Virginia Beach city fence page, or call 757-863-3944 / 1-888-374-3661. Draw your fence line on the satellite map, pick wood, vinyl, or aluminum, then set the finished height that matches each yard segment: 4 ft in front and along any street side within 10 feet of the road, 6 or 8 ft on rear and interior side lines. A live video quote confirms gates, the 5 foot right-of-way setback, and where front rules meet rear privacy.
Recent Virginia Beach projects averaged about 1.8 weeks from quote approval to completion, and Ergeon handles the $50 street-side permit when one is required. In clear conditions, crews install about 60 linear feet per day once work begins, so a 100-ft run is about one to two days on site. Concrete reaches full cure in about 30 days; avoid leaning on new posts during that window. Monthly financing is available on qualifying outdoor projects. Final price depends on length, height, material, and site conditions. See how it works for the quote-to-install flow.
Virginia Beach Planning asks for a site plan with the $50 fence permit whenever a fence sits within 30 feet of a public right-of-way, and the drawing needs to show the 5 foot setback from the right-of-way line, the landscaping strip if you are within 10 feet, and the fence height on each segment. A certified survey often runs $1,000 to $3,000, and you usually do not need that level unless Planning or your HOA specifically asks for a stamped drawing. Ergeon can generate a permit-ready, GIS-based site plan in about 15 minutes for $29, using the same tool it relies on for its own permit filings.
Get a free quote in Virginia Beach
How tall can a fence be in Virginia Beach?
The citywide cap is 8 feet. Fences in a required front yard are limited to 4 feet, and a side yard next to a street is limited to 4 feet within 10 feet of the right-of-way. Most homeowners build 6 feet on rear and interior side lines.
Can I build a 6-foot privacy fence in a Virginia Beach front yard?
No. Required front yards are capped at 4 feet. On a corner lot, a 6 foot fence in the street-side setback is only allowed once it is at least 10 feet back from the right-of-way line.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Virginia Beach?
Yes if any part of the fence is within 30 feet of a public right-of-way. The zoning permit costs $50, the finished side must face the street, and fences over 6 feet also need a building permit. Fences deeper than 30 feet from the street need no zoning permit but still must meet the height rules.
How close to the street can a Virginia Beach fence be?
No closer than 5 feet to the right-of-way line, with landscaping required between the fence and the street if it is within 10 feet. A vinyl or aluminum fence that is at least 50 percent open may sit on the right-of-way line with landscaping inside it.
How much does a Virginia Beach fence cost per foot?
Ergeon's published Virginia Beach averages are about $34/ft for wood and about $35/ft for aluminum installed (2025). Vinyl is priced on your quote. Height, gates, and terrain change the final number.
Get a free quote in Virginia Beach - Call 757-863-3944 or 1-888-374-3661. Monthly-payment financing is available on qualifying projects.
Local Guides
Local Guides
Local Guides
