# Which side of the fence faces the neighbor? > Which side of a fence faces out in Johns Creek and nearby cities: the finished-side rules, corner lots, board-on-board and shadowbox, and HOA preferences. URL: https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/which-side-of-fence-faces-out/ Learn The finished side faces out, toward the neighbor and the street. Johns Creek, Sandy Springs and Peachtree Corners all say so. Last Updated: November 5, 2026 The finished side faces out, toward the neighboring property and the street, with the posts and rails on the owner’s side. The Johns Creek zoning code says fences along property lines are built with the finished side toward the neighboring property (confirm with the city), and Sandy Springs and Peachtree Corners have the same rule in their own codes. [Upright Johns Creek Fencing](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/) builds every fence to the finished-side rule that applies at the address. This guide explains what “finished side” means, how the rules read in nearby cities, and which styles make it a non-issue. ## What the finished side is On a typical wood privacy fence, posts are set in the ground, horizontal rails run between them, and boards are attached to one face of the rails. That face is the finished side: smooth boards from end to end. The other side shows the posts, rails and fasteners. Panel fences in vinyl or composite usually have a front and back as well, and aluminum fences often have a rail side. ## What the codes say Johns Creek’s zoning code section on fences and walls requires fences along all property lines to be built with a finished side toward the neighboring property (confirm with the city for your lot). Sandy Springs’ development code requires walls and fences to be built with the finished side facing the street and adjoining properties, away from what the fence screens. [Peachtree Corners](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/service-areas/peachtree-corners/)’ residential fence guidelines say the finished side should face out and the unfinished side inward toward your property. So in all three, the neighbor and the street see the good side. Where a city’s rule is not published, HOAs commonly require the same. ## Why the rule exists The finished-side rule keeps the street and the neighborhood looking consistent, and it puts the structure on the owner’s side, where the owner can maintain it. It also settles an awkward question between neighbors before it starts: nobody gets stuck looking at the back of someone else’s fence. ## Styles that look finished from both sides Several common styles look finished from both sides, which makes the rule easy to meet and tends to please neighbors on shared lines: - **Board-on-board** overlaps boards on alternating sides so both faces look like a solid board fence. - **Shadowbox** alternates boards on each side of the rails, so the fence looks the same from both yards. - **Good-neighbor panels** in vinyl hide the rails inside the panel. - **Aluminum** looks nearly the same from both sides. The [board-on-board vs shadowbox guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/board-on-board-vs-shadowbox/) compares the two most common wood options. ## Corner lots and streets On a corner lot, the fence faces streets on two sides and neighbors on the others. The finished side faces outward on every side. Corner lots also have height limits on the street side in many cities; Peachtree Corners, for example, limits the corner side to 6 feet in line with the house and 4 feet between the house and the right-of-way. Sight distance near the intersection keeps fences low there too. ## Shared fences and neighbors On a shared rear line, the fence belongs to whoever builds it on their side of the line, and the finished side faces the neighbor. If neighbors are sharing the cost of one fence on the line, agreeing on a style that looks good from both sides avoids disagreement. Placing the fence a few inches inside the line, after confirming it with a [survey](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/survey-before-building-a-fence/) where needed, lets the owner maintain both faces. ## What HOAs add Many HOAs repeat the finished-side rule and may specify a style that is finished on both sides. Some also specify which side of a gate faces the street. The [HOA approval guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/hoa-fence-approval/) covers what committees ask to see, and the [Johns Creek permit guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/johns-creek-fence-permit/) covers the city’s other fence rules. ## Building it right the first time The finished side is decided at layout, because rails are attached to the posts on the inside and boards go on the outside. Turning a finished fence around later means rebuilding it. Showing the finished side on the site plan for the HOA and the city avoids that. A [wood privacy fence](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/wood-fence-installation/) in board-on-board or shadowbox is the simplest way to meet every version of the rule. Questions about a specific line can go to the number at the top of the page or the form below. ## Gates and the finished side Gates follow the same rule as the fence: the finished face goes toward the street or neighbor, with the frame and brace on the owner’s side. On a gate, that also puts the diagonal brace where it can be inspected and the hinges where they can be adjusted. A gate built with its brace facing out is usually a sign it was turned around after the fact. More on gate frames is on the [gate installation page](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/gate-installation/). ## Replacing a fence that faces the wrong way Older fences in north Fulton were sometimes built with the rails facing the neighbor. Replacing one is the time to turn it around so it meets the current rule. Because the finished side depends on which side the boards are attached to, this is decided when the new posts are set; the [fence replacement page](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/fence-replacement/) covers the process. ## Questions about this guide ### What is the finished side of a fence? The side without exposed posts and rails: on a typical privacy fence, the face where the boards or panels cover the framework. The posts and rails are on the other side. ### Can I put the good side facing my yard if the neighbor agrees? Where a city code or HOA requires the finished side outward, a neighbor's agreement does not change the rule. A style that looks finished on both sides avoids the question. ### Which side faces out on a corner lot? The finished side faces the streets and the neighboring lots, so on a corner lot it faces outward on every side of the fence. Want this answered for your own yard? A site visit shows what the line, the slope and the rules mean for your fence. Call (678) 509-2926 ## More guides Decision Guide Board on board vs shadowbox fence: what's the difference? Board-on-board overlaps boards for full privacy; shadowbox alternates them for a look that is the same from both yards and lets air through. Learn How do you get HOA approval for a fence? Submit a site plan, the style, the height and the color to your HOA's architectural committee before the city permit. Here is what they look for. Learn Do I need a survey to build a fence? Not always, but often when the fence will sit close to the property line. Here is what a plat shows, what a survey adds, and how to decide. Learn Do you need a permit to build a fence in Johns Creek? Yes, for every new fence and every replacement. This guide covers the permit, the zoning rules behind it, HOA approval, property lines, utilities, protected trees, and how the rules change in the cities around Johns Creek.