How tall can my fence be in Ann Arbor, MI?

Up to 8' in the rear yard, 4' in front of the building line.

How much does a Ann Arbor, MI fence permit cost?

We have Ann Arbor, MI's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.

What does a fence plot plan need to show?

Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.

Can I draw my plot plan myself?

Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Ann Arbor, MI fence permit site plan

Plan your fence on a satellite map of your Ann Arbor, MI property and get a permit-ready PDF in 2 minutes. Free, no sign-up.

If Ann Arbor's form asks for a site plan and this page says plot plan, they are the same drawing for a fence application: a to-scale overhead view of your lot with the property lines, the existing structures and the proposed fence dimensioned on it. A surveyed site plan is the one genuinely different document, and only a licensed surveyor can seal one. What a fence permit site plan has to show.

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What you'll get for Ann Arbor, MI

✓ Satellite site plan — top-down map of your property with the fence drawn on it, every side dimensioned.
✓ Fence elevation — side view showing height, panel count, and gates.
○ Real lot lines — pending. We use county GIS for this; your county isn't wired up yet so you trace from the satellite image manually.
○ Filled Ann Arbor, MI permit form — pending. Until then you get the universal plot plan + a checklist of what to handwrite on the city's form.
✓ Ann Arbor, MI ordinance check — height limits, setbacks, and neighbor-consent rules specific to Ann Arbor, MI.

Ann Arbor, MI fence rules

Max height (rear yard): 8'
Max height (front of building line): 4'

A zoning compliance permit from Planning Services is required before you build a fence.
In residential districts fences may be 4′ in a front yard, 6′ in a side yard, and 8′ in a rear yard; mixed-use, nonresidential and special purpose districts allow up to 12′. The city's zoning compliance permit list names "Fence (7 feet or less)," so confirm the process with Planning Services before building taller than 7′.
Within 25 feet of the intersection of two or more street lot lines, a fence may not be higher than 30 inches above sidewalk grade. This applies where the zoning district's minimum required front setback is greater than none.
Maximum opacity is 50% in a front yard; side and rear yard fences may be 100% solid.
A fence may be placed anywhere on the lot, including right on a lot line — no setback from the property line or right-of-way is required.
In a historic district you also need a Certificate of Appropriateness from staff or the Historic District Commission.

Do you need a permit? Yes, and it is a zoning compliance permit rather than a building permit. The city's Zoning Compliance Permits page lists Fence (7 feet or less) among the projects that do not require a building permit but do require a zoning compliance permit, and every one of them must now be submitted online through the STREAM system rather than on paper. That page states no rule for anything taller than 7 feet, so confirm a taller fence with Planning Services first. (source)

Source: https://media-001-us.cdn.govstack.com/a2gov-002-us/media/2cnnlc43/udc-edition-11b-8-10-25.pdf

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FAQ

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Ann Arbor, MI?: Yes, and it is a zoning compliance permit rather than a building permit. The city's Zoning Compliance Permits page lists Fence (7 feet or less) among the projects that do not require a building permit but do require a zoning compliance permit, and every one of them must now be submitted online through the STREAM system rather than on paper. That page states no rule for anything taller than 7 feet, so confirm a taller fence with Planning Services first.
How tall can my fence be in Ann Arbor, MI?: Up to 8' in the rear yard, 4' in front of the building line.
How much does a Ann Arbor, MI fence permit cost?: We have Ann Arbor, MI's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.
What does a fence plot plan need to show?: Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.
Can I draw my plot plan myself?: Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Not sure what Ann Arbor means by “site plan”? See the nine things a plan reviewer checks — the same list whatever city you are applying in.

Do I need a survey?·Free template — which kind?·Do I need a permit?·Why permits get rejected

Fence Plotter is informational only. Always confirm specific requirements with the Ann Arbor, MI building department before submitting.

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Plan a fence in Ann Arbor →

Ann Arbor, MI fence permit site plan

What you'll get for Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor, MI fence rules

FAQ

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