Fence Installation Permits in Lincoln

Local Rule

Lincoln-Lancaster County Building and Safety Department

Lincoln requires a Building Permit through Building and Safety for a fence over 7 feet high; a fence under 7 feet on a corner lot or near a driveway or alley is instead reviewed by the Public Works Department for sight-distance compliance, not a building permit. Lincoln Municipal Code Section 27.72.140 caps fence height in single-family residential districts at 4 feet in the front yard and 6 feet in side and rear yards, so a fence built to the 7-foot no-permit ceiling in most yards would exceed the zoning maximum. The City's zoning jurisdiction extends 3 miles beyond city limits. Barbed wire and electric fences are prohibited in residential districts. A barrier at least 48 inches high is required around residential swimming pools, with self-closing, self-latching gates opening outward.

Source · Verified September 2026

Lincoln Building Department

Hours and procedures can change — call ahead to confirm.

How This Compares to Lancaster County

Lincoln's own rule is shown above (No permit under 7 sqft). Here is the separate rule that applies at the county level, for context:

Lincoln-Lancaster County Building and Safety Department (con

A fence over 7 feet requires a building permit under the consolidated Lincoln-Lancaster County Building and Safety Department, which administers both city and county permits from a single office. A fence under 7 feet on a corner lot, or near a driveway or alley, still requires review by the City Public Works Department for compliance with sight-distance standards even though no building permit is needed.

See the full county page

Nearby Cities with Verified Rules

Other cities near Lincoln with a confirmed fence installation rule:

FAQs

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