The City's Zoning Ordinance regulates the location, height, planting requirements, and other fencing provisions in Virginia Beach.

Effective July 5, 2023, fences meeting all of the following criteria will no longer require a permit:

  • Located in a residential zoning district
  • Accessory to a single-family residence
  • On an interior lot
  • No closer than 30 feet to a right-of-way (ROW)
  • No taller than 4 feet in the front yard and 8 feet in any other yard

Fence requirements specifications

Sand Fences

The City allows installation of sand fencing in areas where dune formation is feasible and in areas where existing dunes have been damaged. They can be installed without a separate permit, but the City reserves the right to remove any sand fencing that is hazardous or deemed to be contrary to the public interest.

Sand fence