Plymouth Township fence permit guide

Yes. Plymouth Township, Michigan requires a permit to build, repair, or relocate a fence on a single family lot. The permit comes from the township Building Department at 9955 N. Haggerty Road. Backyard fences can be up to six feet tall, but a six-foot fence cannot sit closer to the street than the midpoint of the house. Ahead of that point, fences stop at four feet. Chain link is limited to four feet with no slats.

Residential wood fencing project.
Metal fence post set in a fresh concrete footing

Plymouth Township fence permit rules

The township ordinance makes it unlawful to build, repair, or relocate a fence in a single family district without a Building and/or Zoning Compliance permit from the Department of Building and Code Enforcement. Repairs and moves count too.

Confirm you live in the Township, not the City

The township and the City of Plymouth share the 48170 ZIP code, but they have separate offices, separate phone numbers, and separate fence codes. The City’s Building Department is at City Hall on Main Street; the township’s is on Haggerty Road. Before you plan anything, confirm which one you are in:

  • Your property tax bill names the community that taxes your home.

  • The township’s BS&A Online portal includes a tool to verify property addressing.

  • The township Building Department can tell you over the phone.

Skip any shortcut based on house numbers. Four-digit addresses show up in both places, and neither government publishes a cutoff number.

How to apply

Homeowners cannot apply online. The township posts a paper Fence Permit Application on its forms page. Registered contractors can apply through BS&A Online. The application asks for:

  • Your address, subdivision name, and lot number

  • Whether it is a corner lot or an interior lot

  • The fence type, such as privacy, decorative, dog run, or pool

  • The yard (front, side, or rear), the height, the material, and the cost

  • Whether you checked with your homeowners association

The township does not enforce subdivision deed restrictions, but it wants you to check them.

White vinyl picket fence in front of a suburban home

Plymouth Township Building Department

9955 N. Haggerty Road, First Floor, Plymouth, MI 48170. Phone (734) 354-3210. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. unless the township posts otherwise.

Height and placement on your lot

Backyard and side yard fences. A security or privacy fence can be up to six feet tall. It may run along your lot lines, but a six-foot fence cannot come closer to the street than the midpoint of the house wall facing the street. If the house has two midpoints, the one set farther back controls. No fence may sit closer to the street than the front setback line.

Fences toward the street. In front of that midpoint, fences top out at four feet and can never go past the front building line. There are two exceptions. A six-foot fence may extend past the midpoint to enclose a side entry door, if the department agrees. And a lot that backs or sides onto a major road with a 120-foot right-of-way may place a fence within three feet of the street setback line, with landscaping in front.

Corner lots. On a corner lot, one street side is the front yard and follows the rules above. On the other street side, the fence may run along the rear lot line to a point at least 20 feet from the side street corner. From there it angles in at 45 degrees or more to a line three feet inside the side lot line, then runs along that line to the back corner of the house.

Sidewalks and sight lines. Every fence must stay at least one foot from the nearest edge of any sidewalk, and fences must keep sight lines open under the township’s corner visibility rules.

Steel slide gate across a commercial driveway

Fence types with their own limits

  • Decorative fences are mainly for looks. They stop at four feet, stay at least two feet from the street right-of-way, and cannot be chain link.

  • Privacy screens around a patio go in the rear yard only, up to six feet, at least 20 feet from the rear lot line, and not past the sides of the house.

  • Dog runs can be four feet tall in a side yard and six feet in the rear, up to 300 square feet. They must be screened and stay eight feet from a side lot line and ten feet from the rear line.

  • Pool fences follow the township’s Swimming Pools chapter and its posted pool guidelines.

Material and appearance rules

The township bans barbed wire, electric fences, and sharp or pointed tops. Wood pickets must be at least one inch by three inches, with tops cut at 90 degrees or wider. Chain link is limited to four feet and cannot have slats or strips. Used material is allowed only if the department finds it sound. The more finished side must face out from your lot, and the township encourages quality fences in neutral colors that suit the neighborhood. Owners must keep fences in good repair. If the department denies a fence, you can appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

How Anchor Fence takes care of it

The property owner obtains the permit, and Anchor Fence can advise you on the rules and give you the layout and material details for the application.

Inspections and digging

Township permits usually have at least two inspections, a rough and a final. Inspections should be booked by 2:00 p.m. the day before, and building inspections run weekdays starting at 9:00 a.m. Before any post hole is dug, MISS DIG, Michigan’s 811 system, needs at least three business days’ notice to mark buried utility lines.

Common questions about Plymouth Township fence permits

Yes. The Plymouth Township zoning ordinance requires a permit to build, repair, or relocate a fence in single family districts. Call the township Building Department at (734) 354-3210 if you are unsure whether a small fix counts. The property owner obtains the permit, and Anchor Fence can advise you on the rules and give you the layout and material details for the application.

A backyard security or privacy fence in Plymouth Township can be up to six feet tall. Fences closer to the street than the midpoint of the house are limited to four feet. Decorative fences and residential chain link also top out at four feet.

Not as a homeowner. Plymouth Township says homeowners cannot pull permits online and posts a paper Fence Permit Application on its website. Registered contractors can apply through BS&A Online. The property owner obtains the permit, and Anchor Fence can advise you on the rules and give you the layout and material details for the application.

The finished side faces out. Plymouth Township’s ordinance says all fences must look finished from off site, and if one side is more finished, that side faces the exterior of the lot. The township also encourages neutral colors that fit the neighborhood.

Get your Plymouth Township fence plan ready

Anchor Fence will walk your property, explain the Plymouth Township rules that apply, and give you a written quote at no cost. Call (313) 937-0101 or send the quote form to get started.

Plymouth Township Building Department Address & Phone Number:

Plymouth Township Fence Ordinances:

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