Before a new fence goes up in Abingdon or anywhere in Washington County, four things are worth checking: local permit and height rules, any HOA or deed rules, where the property lines are, and where buried utilities run. This guide covers what the local offices say, checked in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the office before you build.
Do you need a fence permit in Abingdon, VA?
- In the Town of Abingdon, a fence between the street and the front building line can’t be more than four feet tall (Town of Abingdon code, Landscaping, Walls, and Fences).
- In residential districts, a fence can’t be more than seven feet above existing grade without a special use permit.
- The more finished side of the fence has to face out, toward the edge of the lot.
- Chain link is allowed in residential districts without opaque slats, and isn’t allowed at all in the Old and Historic District.
- Fences can’t go in the public right-of-way, need written permission from the easement holder inside an easement, and can’t block or divert natural drainage.
- Planning and zoning questions go to the Town at (276) 628-3167 (Town of Abingdon forms and permits). Outside town limits, ask Washington County Building & Development.
Who to ask: Town of Abingdon Planning and Zoning, (276) 628-3167 (in town) or Washington County (outside it). If the property is in an HOA, check its rules too; they’re often stricter than the town’s about height, style and color.
Call Virginia 811 before any post hole
Virginia law requires anyone digging, including for fence posts, to contact Virginia 811 at least 3 working days in advance (weekends and legal holidays don’t count). It’s free: call 811 or submit a request online (Virginia 811). Utilities mark their lines with paint or flags. Private lines, like a line to a shop or a well, aren’t marked, so point those out to the installer.
Know your property lines
Fences are usually set a little inside the property line, not on it. If you aren’t sure where the line is, look for the corner pins from your survey, or check the county’s GIS map as a rough guide. A new survey is the only way to be certain on a close call with a neighbor.
Farm fence on hillsides
A lot of Washington County is farm ground on hillsides: cattle pasture, hay fields and mountain land. Board, woven wire and high-tensile fence each suit different stock and different slopes.
Limestone turns up in post holes, and frost works on shallow footings every winter, so posts on farm lines are set deep and braced at corners and gates.
What to have ready for an estimate
- Roughly how many feet of fence, and where it starts and stops
- How many gates, and how wide (a mower or truck gate is wider than a walk gate)
- What the fence is for: privacy, pets, a pool, livestock or looks
- The material you lean toward: wood, vinyl, chain link, or farm and field fence
- Any slope, rock, trees or brush along the line
- Your permit or HOA answer, if you already have one
Get a fence estimate in Abingdon
We cover Abingdon, Damascus, Glade Spring, Meadowview and Emory and the rest of Washington County. See fence installation, privacy fences, farm and field fence and fence repair, or request a free estimate.
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