City of Chesapeake Virginia
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • A-Z Index
  • My Chesapeake
Advanced >>
  • Residents
    • A-Z Citizen's Guide
    • Adopt a Pet
    • Boards & Commissions
    • Bulk Trash Collection
    • City Employment
    • City Services – Request
    • Civic League / HOA Directory
    • Communities
      • South Norfolk
    • Events Planning
    • Farmers Market
    • Fine Arts
    • Flooding
    • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
      • Maps Gallery
      • Property QuickSearch
    • Human Services
      • Adult Protective Services
      • Child Protective Services
      • Licensed Child Care
      • Parent and Youth Resources
    • Library
    • Mosquito Control
    • New Residents
    • Parks, Recreation and Tourism
    • Permits
      • Building Permits and Inspections Information
      • Forms and Permits List
    • Public Schools
    • Real Estate Assessments
    • Senior Citizens
    • Welcome to Chesapeake
    • Chesapeake TV
      • Watch Live!
      • On Demand
      • Program Schedule

  • Visitors
    • Visiting Chesapeake?
      • Official Visitor Center
      • Chesapeake Tourism
      • Climate and Weather
      • History of Chesapeake
    • Chesapeake Expressway
    • City Activities and Info
      • City Calendar of Events
      • Parks, Recreation and Tourism
      • Library
      • Directions to City Facilities
    • Communities
      • South Norfolk
    • Attractions
      • Arboretum
      • City Park
      • Deep Creek Park
      • Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
      • Fun Forest
      • Northwest River Park
      • Oak Grove Lake Park
      • Planetarium
      • Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation

  • Business
    • Resources for New and Relocating Businesses
      • Economic Development
      • Opening a New Business
      • New Business Listing
      • Tenant Build-Outs
      • Development Review Process in Chesapeake
    • Doing Business with the City
      • Process
      • Bids and RFPs
    • Development, Land Use & Construction
      • Comprehensive Guide
    • Resources
      • Building Permits and Inspections Information
      • Forms and Permits List
      • Get Your Permit Online
      • Public Facilities Manual (PFM)
      • GIS: Geospatial Data
    • Departments
      • Commissioner of the Revenue
      • Development & Permits
      • Economic Development
      • Health Department
      • Planning
      • Public Utilities
      • Public Works
      • Treasurer

  • Government
    • Welcome to Chesapeake
    • City Council
      • Meetings
      • Members & Mayor
      • Upcoming Agenda
      • Previous Meeting Agendas, Videos & Minutes
      • City Clerk's Office
      • Watch Meeting Live
    • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
    • Boards and Commissions
    • City Departments
    • City Budget
      • Operating & Capital Improvement Budgets
    • Constitutional Offices
      • Clerk of the Circuit Court
      • Commissioner of the Revenue
      • Commonwealth's Attorney
      • Sheriff
      • Treasurer
    • City Manager
    • Animal Services
    • Fire
    • Human Resources
    • Human Services
    • Public Schools
    • Real Estate Assessor
    • Planning Dept
    • Public Works
    • Public Utilities
    • Police
    • Voter Registrar

  • Online Services
    • Request a Service Online
    • Bulk Trash Collection
    • City Forms & Applications
    • Online Payments
      • Treasurer's Payment Center
      • Income Tax Return Information
    • Public Library
      • Library Card Application
    • Submit a FOIA Request
    • Parks and Recreation Online Class Registration
    • Property Information
      • Real Estate Property Information Search
      • Property Quick Search
      • GIS Map Gallery
      • School Zone Lookup
      • Outstanding Real Estate Taxes & Fees Information
    • City Employment
    • Voting
      • Where do I vote?
      • Who is my Legislator?
    • Construction
      • Apply for a Permit
      • Inspection Results
      • Request an Inspection
    • Public Safety
      • File a Police Crime Report
      • Interactive Crime Map

I Want To
This Section
  • Circuit Court
  • Circuit Court Clerk
  • General District Court
  • Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
  • Commonwealth's Attorney
  • Juvenile Court Services
  • Magistrate
share
print
 > City of Chesapeake, Virginia > Government > City Agencies, Departments, and Offices > Departments > Department of Development and Permits > Zoning Administration > Location > Fence Regulations
Apply Online with eBUILD
Chesapeake eBUILD

Fence Regulations

Phone: 757-382-8454 Fax: 757-382-8448 Email: develop-permits@cityofchesapeake.net
Address: 306 Cedar Road, City Hall 2nd Floor, Chesapeake, VA 23322
To report a possible violation, you can contact 757-382-CITY (2489) or Request a City Service online. 
page image

A permit is required to install or replace a fence (no permit required to replace 8 feet of fencing or less). If erecting a fence that is not for a pool barrier requirement, please select this link to apply via our eBuild system for a Zoning/Fence permit.  If erecting a fence to meet a pool barrier requirement, this would be a Building Fence, which may also be applied for via our eBuild system.

The “good side” of a fence must face outward on corner and through lots, and when protecting a pool. In all other instances there is no requirement to face the “good side” out, although it is recommended.

Fences can be placed up to the property line unless there is an easement held by the City or private party.  If a fence is proposed to be installed in a City Public Drainage and / or Impoundment Easement, submit an Owner Acknowledgement Form with the fence permit application.

Fences on residential properties can be a maximum of 6’ tall. Fences placed between a house and any street can not be taller than 4’ unless a Special Exception for fence height is approved.

The Zoning Administrator can approve the issuance of a Special Exception permit for a fence or wall greater than four feet in height within the secondary front yard of a residential corner lot or through lot under the following conditions:

  1. FenceThe height of the fence or wall does not exceed six (6) feet. The fence must be constructed so that the finished side faces the street.
  2. The fence or wall is constructed on or behind the building line established by the front line of the principal dwelling located on the lot.
  3. A landscaping plan is approved by the City Arborist, showing a five foot buffer yard that is installed and maintained with vegetation between the fence or wall and the public right-of-way.
  4. The Department of Public Works determines that the fence or wall will not interfere with or impede traffic visibility.
  5. Written notice is mailed to all adjacent property owners and no adjacent property owner has any objections to the fence being installed.
  6. The applicant remits all fees, obtains a fence permit, and otherwise complies with all applicable city ordinances.

Zoning Administration is responsible for ensuring that all the above requirements have been met. The process is handled administratively and will take approximately twenty days. If the above requirements have not been satisfied, the applicant may file an application for a variance to be heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Applications are accepted during all normal working hours. There is no fee for the application except the cost of providing envelopes and postage.

Fence permits may be obtained via our online eBuild system or at City Hall, second floor, in the Zoning office. To obtain a permit you will need a copy of a physical survey or site plan drawn to scale and an estimate of the cost of the fence. The permit fee for fence construction is based on cost of construction in $1,000 increments.  For the first $0-$1,000 the permit fee would be $ 45.00 plus a $5 technology fee = $50.00.  The permit fee increases an additional $10.00 per each $1,000 value of construction.

Fences enclosing pools and spas have special requirements and require a building permit. The fee for pool/spa fences may be higher due to the inspection requirements. A brochure is available from the Code Compliance Division, Department of Development & Permits , 2nd floor of City Hall building.

Barbed wire fencing is not permitted on Residential zoned property except RE-1 (Residential Estate), and then only when used to contain permitted animals.

Revised 5/7/2020 WT

 
City of Chesapeake Virginia

City Hall Address:
306 Cedar Road
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Blue Heron
Connect with Us Connect with Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Chesapeake Television
  • All Social Media Sites
  • Email and RSS Notifications
  • Chesapeake Alert
  • Other City of Chesapeake Websites
QuickLinks QuickLinks
  • Request a City Service
  • Contact Us
  • News Room
  • Calendar
  • WCTV Chesapeake Television
  • Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Policies Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility

© Copyright 1996 - 2018 • City of Chesapeake • All rights reserved