Fence Ordinances in Royal Oak Michigan
Below is a brief overview of the fence ordinances for Royal Oak Michigan. This is not a complete or definite list and should never be used in support of a dispute. Click here to review the complete document of codes and ordinances regarding fences in Royal Oak.
Design & Height Requirements
In Royal Oak, you can pretty much have any common type and style of fence installed at your property. This includes types like vinyl fencing, wood fencing, aluminum fence, and chain link fence. Styles allowed also include privacy fencing, picket fences, and ornamental fences.
The maximum height for fences installed in a backyard in Royal Oak is 6 feet tall, while fences installed in a front yard have a maximum height of 4 feet tall. Backyard fences can be any of the fence styles mentioned in the previous paragraph, however, front yard fences must be non-privacy (non-sight-obscuring) and they need to meet pedestrian and vehicle traffic visibility ordinances.
When installing a fence in Royal Oak, you can install the fence to where the finished/smooth side of the fence faces either your property or your neighbor’s property. This is an ordinance that has recently changed, it used to be required that the finished side of the fence face your neighbors property.
Location Requirements
Backyard fences installed in Royal Oak can be installed along all rear property lines and along the sides of your house, but not extending beyond the front corners of the house. The potential exception to this is if your fence is a non-privacy fence and no taller than 4-ft tall. However, this is up to the discretion of the city inspector.
If you live on a corner lot, you may install your fence around your rear property and into your side/front yard (towards the side street) as long as you stay at least 1-ft away from the public sidewalk and your fence meets all traffic and pedestrian visibility requirements. This usually will require a 10×10′ setback from any driveways or garages to provide clearance for vehicles.
