Yes, plan on one. Lincoln Park reviews fences through its Building Department, asks for a mortgage survey or plot plan with the application, inspects the post holes and requires a final inspection on every fence. Nearby cities have their own rules, and we check them for your address before we quote.
Do I need a permit to build or replace a fence?
In Lincoln Park, yes. The city inspects every post hole to confirm it reaches 42 inches before posts are set in concrete, and it requires a final inspection on all fences. We treat a like-for-like replacement as a new fence and go through the same steps. Southgate's code says it outright: a site plan and a zoning permit are needed to build or replace a fence. Dearborn, Melvindale, River Rouge and Riverview also call for a permit. Our town pages list the office for each city.
How tall can my fence be? Is 6 feet allowed?
Yes. Lincoln Park allows a fence up to 6 feet, and it can come no closer than 5 feet to the front building line. That means no tall fence in the front yard and the side runs stop a little behind the front of the house. Neighboring cities differ. Wyandotte holds side yard fences to 5 feet on many lots, and Southgate limits a decorative front yard fence to 30 inches.
How close to the property line can I build? Do I need a survey?
You can usually build right up to the line, on your side. Lincoln Park also wants the fence 12 inches off any city sidewalk. The city asks for a mortgage survey with the application, or a complete plot plan if you do not have one. If the boundary is not marked, or your neighbor sees it differently, get a plot plan or a survey before the first hole is dug. Old fence lines on Lincoln Park blocks do not always sit on the true line.
Can I take out the old chain link fence on the line?
Only with your neighbors' consent. Lincoln Park does not allow an existing chain link fence to be removed without the consent of all adjoining neighbors. If it stays, a new wood fence must sit at least 3 inches from it and cannot be attached to it.
Which side of the fence faces my neighbor?
The good side. Lincoln Park requires the 2x4 rails to be on the installer's side, so the finished face points toward the neighbor or the street. The city also asks that fence sections be removable for maintenance.
I live in a historic district. What can I build?
Very few Downriver streets sit in a local historic district, and Lincoln Park's fence rules do not mention one. If your home is in a historic area, such as the Ford Homes area in Dearborn, ask the city whether exterior work needs review before you order anything. An open aluminum or wood picket fence is the style most often accepted on older streets, and it is also one of the more affordable choices.
Can my condo association or HOA restrict my fence?
Yes. An association or a deed restriction can be stricter than the city on height, style and color. Get its approval in writing before any material is ordered.
We are adding a pool. What fence does code require?
In Lincoln Park, a pool, spa or similar setup that holds 24 inches of water or more must meet the building code's security rules, and the city inspects the pool's placement before it issues the permit. The pool barrier rules Michigan cities use call for a barrier at least 48 inches high, a gap of no more than 2 inches at the bottom and gates that open away from the pool and close and latch by themselves. Confirm the current figures with the Building Department and plan the fence with the pool.
The inspector failed my existing fence for the pool. Who brings it up to code?
A fence contractor does the work. Older yard fences usually fail on the gate, the gap at the ground, the picket or mesh spacing, or something next to the fence a child could climb. Send us the correction notice and we price just what the inspector listed.
My association only allows a 4-foot open fence, but I want privacy. What are my options?
Work inside the rule first. A 4-foot open fence with dense shrubs or tall grasses behind it gives real privacy within a few seasons. A screen panel beside the patio may fall under a different rule than a fence on the lot line. If that is not enough, ask the board in writing for an exception. Check your survey for utility or drainage easements too, since a fence may need to stay out of them.
Who calls 811 before digging, me or the contractor?
Whoever is digging. In Michigan that service is MISS DIG 811. It is free, the law requires it, and the request must go in at least 3 business days before digging starts. Digging must begin within 14 days of the ticket's start date. We place the request on every fence we install. MISS DIG members mark only their own lines, so a wire you ran to the garage, sprinkler pipe and yard lights are for you to point out.
My contractor wants to skip the permit and reuse the old holes. What is the risk?
The risk lands on you. In Lincoln Park, the city inspects post holes before concrete and does a final inspection, and a fence built without that can be cited and may have to be redone. The owner gets the notice, not the contractor. Old holes are a second problem: if they were shallow, the new posts will heave the same way the old ones did.
The city says my existing fence breaks the current rules. Can I just repair it?
Ask the Building Department before spending money. Many cities let an older fence be repaired but require a rebuilt fence to meet today's rules. In Lincoln Park that means the 6-foot limit, the 5-foot setback from the front building line and the 42-inch holes.
The only real price is one measured on your lot. Call (313) 723-2710 for a free on-site estimate, or text a photo of the fence line to the same number.