ISO Advice on a 6' fence placement - is it LEGAL?

Question

Recently, I found out that my 6' fence to my new (to-be-built) house is placed on a decline (hill) so that when I stand on the property, the fence is actually 3'. Is this legal, given the description from the builder that fence is 6'?

Has anyone had this happened to them? What are my options to place the responsibility on the builder?

Thank you in advance for your guidance!

Wayne Brooks · Answer

If the Actual fence is 6’ tall....then it is 6’ tall. It doesn’t matter what it “looks like” from an uphill slope.

Kenneth Garrett · Answer

@Ann Ngo

Typically the height of a fence is taken from grade.  Fence installers typically follow the contour of the ground to maintain the height.  A large elevation change can take a fence on one side of the property to be 6 feet while depending on significant grade change can look like a 10 foot fence to the neighbor.  You will need to check with your local building and zoning department.

Kyle J. · Answer

@Ann Ngo Like @Wayne Brooks pointed out, a 6’ fence doesn’t suddenly shrink and become half its height because you stand in a different place and your perspective changes. If it’s 6’ tall than it’s 6’ tall, even if it might be easier to see over from other vantage points.

Depending on the layout of the property and your local city ordinances, there may or may not be anything you can do. Perhaps you could try adding some lattice panels to the top to help a little bit with privacy. Just an idea.

Michael Lewis Lee · Answer

Hello Ann!  All Cities or States have different laws usually.  You need to ask a subject area building official like a building Inspector.

Good luck to you!

ISO Advice on a 6' fence placement - is it LEGAL?

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