If you live in an HOA, your fence has two bosses: the city and the association. Most fence disputes in planned communities come from homeowners who satisfied one and skipped the other. This guide explains how the two layers fit together and what to have in hand before you sign with a fence or wall company. HOA rules vary widely, so nothing below is a universal rule. Your own governing documents are the authority.
Two layers of rules
The city sets the floor. St. George City Code §10-18-1 limits how tall a fence can be (in most zones, 4 feet in the front yard and 6 feet 4 inches in the side and rear yards) and requires decorative, at-least-50-percent-open fences within 10 feet behind the sidewalk. Under §10-18-5, a permit is required before you construct any fence or retaining wall in a front setback, and for CMU, segmental block, rockery, or reinforced-concrete retaining walls of 4 feet or greater.
The HOA can add to it. Your association's covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) and its architectural guidelines can be stricter than the city about height, materials, colors, and style. They generally cannot let you ignore a city requirement. When the two conflict, plan around the stricter one.
What HOAs commonly regulate
- Height. Often lower than the city maximum, especially in front and along shared open space.
- Material. Some allow only certain materials, such as block, ornamental iron, or a specific vinyl style, and restrict chain-link or unfinished wood.
- Color and finish. Wall coatings, stains, and paint colors may need to match an approved palette.
- Style and openness. Solid versus view fencing, especially on lots that back to golf courses, washes, or open space.
- Location. Setbacks from easements, drainage channels, and shared walls.
- Gates and hardware. Finish, swing, and placement.
- Contractor rules. Some associations require proof of insurance or a licensed contractor before work begins.
How to get HOA approval without delays
- Get your governing documents. Ask the HOA or management company for the CC&Rs and the current architectural or fence guidelines, and read the sections on fences, walls, and approval procedures.
- Sketch the project. A simple site plan showing property lines, where the fence goes, height, gates, and material and color usually satisfies a first review.
- Ask for the application and timeline. Many review boards meet on a schedule, so timing affects when you can order materials.
- Submit before you sign. Ask your fence company whether their quote is contingent on approval, so you are not committed to a design the board rejects.
- Get the decision in writing. Keep the approval, including any conditions, with your contract.
- Then check the city side. See the permit guide for when the city requires a permit.
New-construction lots
Fence questions on a new home are different because the builder and the community developer may already have decided some of them. Perimeter walls, side-yard fences, and backyard fences can all be handled differently from one community to another. Before you plan anything on a new-construction lot:
- Read your purchase contract and closing documents for anything about fences or walls.
- Ask who owns and maintains any wall or fence along your property line, and whether you are allowed to modify it.
- Confirm the landscaping and fencing deadlines, if the community has them.
- Ask whether shared walls can be extended, raised, or replaced, and who approves that.
- Check your final grading before you set posts; new lots may still be settling.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a contractor "handles" HOA approval. Ask who submits it and confirm it is done.
- Ordering materials before approval is in writing.
- Building to the city maximum height when the HOA limit is lower.
- Treating HOA approval as a substitute for a city permit, or the reverse.
- Picking a color or finish that is not on the association's approved list.
If the HOA says no
Ask what specifically is out of compliance and whether a variation would be approved, such as a lower height, a different finish, or a different location. Many boards will approve a modified design. If you believe a decision conflicts with your governing documents, the CC&Rs usually set out an appeal or variance process; for anything beyond that, consult an attorney who handles community-association matters.
City limits and permit triggers cite St. George City Code §10-18-1 and §10-18-5, rechecked September 26, 2026. HOA rules vary by association and change over time; this page is general information, not legal advice.