What's Required in Baltimore
- Building permit for every new or replacement fence; the model-code fence exemption is not adopted (BFRCBC 105.2 items 2 to 4; Part X R105.2 items 1 to 3).
- Site plan showing the fence line for any new installation (DHCD drawings matrix).
- Masonry fences need drawings that show the footing (DHCD drawings matrix).
- No more than 4 ft high in a required front or corner-side yard (Zoning Code Table 15-601).
- No more than 6 ft high in a required rear or interior-side yard (Zoning Code Table 15-601).
- Fee $10 per 100 linear ft (read with the $25 code minimum), plus the $25 application fee and 5% permit tax (BFRCBC 109).
- CHAP approval before the permit in a historic district or on a landmark (City Code Art. 6, 8-2(a)(4)).
- Anything in the public right-of-way needs a Minor Privilege permit from the Department of Transportation.
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Fence in Baltimore?
Yes, for any new fence. The model building and residential codes let you put up a fence of 7 feet or less without a permit, but Baltimore City's Building, Fire, and Related Codes mark that exemption Not Adopted in both places: items 2 to 4 of the building code's Section 105.2 and items 1 to 3 of the residential code's R105.2. DHCD's list of work exempt from permit has no fence item, and its drawings matrix lists fences under 6 feet at one- and two-family homes as permit work where a new installation requires a site plan. Masonry fences need drawings that show the footing. Swapping a few broken boards is ordinary maintenance, which DHCD says generally needs no permit; replacing the fence is permit work.
How Tall Can a Fence Be in Baltimore?
The Zoning Code (Article 32, Table 15-601) allows a fence or wall in a required front or corner-side yard only if it is no more than 4 feet high, and in a required rear or interior-side yard only if it is no more than 6 feet high. On most rowhouse and small detached lots nearly the whole lot is required yard, so plan on those caps and talk to the Zoning office (410-396-4126) before designing anything taller. A fence on public sidewalk or alley space is an encroachment into the right-of-way, which the Department of Transportation's Minor Privilege Section permits separately. In a CHAP historic district, building any fence or wall is a regulated alteration under City Code Article 6, so CHAP must approve it first and the permit will not be issued over the counter.
Baltimore Fence Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 6 ft wood privacy fence, 120 ft along the rear and side lines | Permit: $25 + $2 tax + $25 application = $52 | BFRCBC 109.6.1(g), 109.3, 109.7, 109.5.7 |
| 4 ft picket fence across the front yard | Permit, about $52 | 4 ft cap in front and corner-side yards (Table 15-601) |
| Fence over 4 ft in the front yard or over 6 ft at the rear | Not a permitted yard encroachment; ask Zoning | Zoning Code Table 15-601 |
| 400 ft of fence around a large detached lot | Permit: $40 + $2 tax + $25 application = $67 | BFRCBC 109.6.1(g) |
| Brick or block garden wall | Permit with drawings showing the footing | DHCD drawings matrix (masonry fence) |
| Fence at a house in a CHAP district | CHAP approval, then the DHCD permit | City Code Art. 6, 8-2(a)(4) |
| Replacing a few damaged boards or pickets | Generally none (ordinary repair) | DHCD exempt-work handout |
How Much Does a Fence Permit Cost?
Section 109.6.1(g) of the city code charges $10 for each 100 linear feet of fence or fraction of 100 feet. Section 109.3 sets a $25 minimum for any fee unless otherwise specified, and the fence line names no minimum of its own, so we read the fence fee as at least $25, which covers any run up to 200 feet; 201 to 300 feet is $30. Add the nonrefundable $25 application fee charged on one- and two-family dwelling applications that need no plan review, and the 5% Building Code Permit Tax rounded up to the next dollar. A typical backyard fence therefore costs $25 + $2 + $25 = $52; 400 feet of fence costs $40 + $2 + $25 = $67. DHCD calculates the final figure at intake. Building without the permit adds a surcharge of the greater of $1,000 or 50% of the permit fee.
Who Applies and How?
The owner or lessee, their agent, or a licensed engineer or architect may apply. DHCD's permits page says construction work on one- and two-family dwellings requires a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) licensed contractor, so a fence company must hold an MHIC license. File in E-Permits under the One and Two Family Combo Permit with a site plan showing the fence line, heights and gates. DHCD's inspection guidelines list fencing among required building inspections: a footing inspection as needed and a final. Call Miss Utility 48 hours before you dig post holes.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Baltimore
Pick the height by yard
Front and corner-side yards: 4 ft maximum. Rear and interior-side yards: 6 ft maximum. Stay on your side of the property line.
Check historic status
If the house is in a CHAP district or on the landmark list, expect CHAP review of the fence design before DHCD issues the permit.
Draw a site plan
Show the lot lines, the fence run with its length, heights and gate locations; add footing details for a masonry wall.
Apply and pay in E-Permits
File a One and Two Family Combo Permit, pay the $25 application fee, then the fence fee and 5% tax before issue.
Call Miss Utility, build, inspect
Call 1-800-257-7777 48 hours before digging, post the permit, and schedule the footing (as needed) and final inspections.