Corner Lot Fences

Corner Lot Fence Restrictions

The Bowie City Code and the Prince George's County Zoning Ordinance have restrictions on the placement and height of fences along the side street yard and the rear lot line of corner lots.

  • A fence may not be located between the side street yard building restriction line of a residence and any public or private street or parking area.
  • A rear lot line fence must be set back 25 feet from the property line if the rear lot line is a continuation of the front yard line of the adjacent lot.
  • Fences may not exceed 4 feet in height in the side street yard unless a variance from the County Zoning Ordinance is obtained.

Side Street Yard Defined

A corner lot has two yards abutting a street or parking area and a through corner lot has three abutting yards. One of the yards abutting the street is the "apparent front yard". The apparent front yard is defined by the architectural features of the residential dwelling and its orientation to the street. The other yards abutting a street are the "side street yards".

Set Backs for Side Street Yard Fence 

A fence may not be located between the side street yard building restriction line and the property/street line or parking area. The distance the fence must be set back from the property/street line is determined by the Prince George's County Zoning Ordinance, Sec. 27-442. The building restriction line (also known as the building line or required yard) is determined by the residential zone and whether the adjoining lot fronts the side street.

Distance a New Fence Must Be Set Back From Property Line

All other zones: Check County Zoning Ordinance.
Zone Adjoining Lot
 Side Street
R-55. R-R
 25 feet
 15 feet
R-A 50 feet
 20 feet

An example: a new fence to be erected in the side street yard of a R-55 zoned lot where the adjoining lot fronts the side street must be set back 25' from the property/street line (not the curb).  See an example of two corner lots; one with the adjoining lot fronting the side street (Example 1) and the other adjoining lot (Example 2) not fronting the side street.

*The property/street line for a Levitt house is generally located approximately 11 feet 4 inches from the back of the curb towards your house. Please check your survey map for an accurate location of the property/street line.

A fence may be located in any part of the side street yard if the side street yard lot line is a continuation of the rear lot line of the adjoining lot. A property owner may apply for a variance from the strict application of the City Code by submitting an Application for Variance from the City of Bowie Zoning Ordinance. Contact Code Compliance Officer Jamie Braun at 301-809-3012 or for more information on a City variance.

Rear Yard Fence setback 

Fences in rear yards where the rear lot line is a continuation of the front yard line of the adjacent lot must be set back 25 feet from the property line.

Height Restriction of a Side Street Yard Fence

The Prince George's County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 27-420; in the case of a corner lot consisting of 1 acre or less, prohibits a fence in the side yard from being more than 4 feet high unless a variance is approved by the Board of Appeals.

A resident may apply for this variance through the City of Bowie Planning and Community Development Department. For more information on obtaining a side yard fence variance please contact the Planning Department at 301-809-3047 or view the variance package on this site.

For more information regarding fence regulations, please contact the Code Compliance Office at 301-809-3008.