# Privacy Fence Installation in Johns Creek, GA > Privacy fences in Johns Creek, GA: 6 and 8 foot fences in wood, vinyl and composite, height limits, wind load, HOA approval and typical prices. URL: https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/privacy-fence-installation/ Service 6 and 8 foot privacy fences in wood, vinyl and composite, built for the wind a solid fence catches and the rules your HOA sets. Call (678) 509-2926 Last Updated: November 5, 2026 - **Permit** Johns Creek requires a fence permit for new fences and for replacing an existing one. - **HOA** The city does not enforce subdivision covenants, so HOA approval is a separate step. - **Digging** Georgia 811 must be called before digging with powered equipment, including a gas auger. - **Soil** Most Johns Creek yards sit on Piedmont soils with clay subsoil; some areas are stony. - **Finished side** The zoning code calls for the finished side to face the neighbor (confirm with the city). [Upright Johns Creek Fencing](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/) builds privacy fences across Johns Creek and north Fulton in wood, vinyl and composite, with the work done by licensed and insured fencing contractors. A privacy fence has one job, screening the yard, but doing it well depends on three things people tend to underestimate: how tall the rules allow, how much wind a solid fence catches, and what happens where the ground drops away under it. Most privacy fences in Johns Creek are 6 feet tall and run along rear and side lot lines, often shared with two or three neighbors. Some are 8 feet where a house sits close behind or a road runs along the back of the lot. ## What happens on the first visit The visit measures the line and the heights you want along it, and notes what you are screening: a neighbor’s deck, a road, a commercial lot behind the subdivision. That sometimes means a taller section in one place and a standard height elsewhere. The grade is checked along the whole line, because a privacy fence stepping down a slope can leave gaps at the bottom that defeat the purpose. Your HOA’s height, style and color rules are reviewed against the plan before anything is priced. The estimate lists the material, height, post spacing and size, gates, any kickboards and the [Johns Creek permit](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/johns-creek-fence-permit/), plus tear-out of an old fence if there is one. ## How tall a privacy fence can be The Johns Creek zoning code limits fences and walls in residential districts to 8 feet from grade, with columns and ornaments allowed up to 3 feet above that (confirm with the city for your lot). Many HOAs set a lower limit, commonly 6 feet, and some restrict front-yard fences entirely. Nearby cities differ: Sandy Springs limits solid front-yard fences to 4 feet and side and rear fences to 8 feet, and Peachtree Corners allows 8 feet in rear and side yards but less on the street side of a corner lot. The [HOA approval guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/hoa-fence-approval/) covers how to get a taller section approved when the screening need is real. ## Wind load: why posts matter more on solid fences A solid privacy fence behaves like a sail. Wind that would pass through a picket or aluminum fence pushes on every square foot of a privacy fence, and that force grows with height. The posts carry it into the ground, so a privacy fence needs heavier posts, closer spacing and deeper footings than an open fence of the same length. An 8-foot fence needs more than a 6-foot one, and a fence on an exposed lot, at the top of a slope or across an open field, needs more than one sheltered by trees. Board-on-board catches the most wind because it is completely solid. Shadowbox and other semi-privacy styles let some air through and load the posts less, while still blocking most views. When a lot is exposed, that can be the better choice. The [board-on-board vs shadowbox guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/board-on-board-vs-shadowbox/) compares the two. ## Choosing a material [Wood](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/wood-fence-installation/) is the most common privacy fence here. It costs the least to install, can be repaired one board at a time and is what most HOAs expect. It needs a stain every few years. [Vinyl](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/vinyl-fence-installation/) gives full privacy without staining and resists rot, but cracks under impact, can be hard to match years later and is not allowed for new fences in Sandy Springs. Composite boards look like wood and do not need staining; they cost more and are usually installed in level sections on aluminum or steel posts. Lattice tops, cap rails and trim change the look without changing the screening much. The [wood vs vinyl guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/wood-vs-vinyl-fence/) covers the long-term tradeoffs. ## Closing the gaps on slopes On a slope, privacy fences are either racked, with rails following the grade, or stepped, with level sections that drop at each post. Wood can do either. Most vinyl and composite privacy panels must be stepped, which leaves a triangle of open space under each section on the downhill side. Those gaps are filled with a kickboard, a short extension of the infill, or a gravel strip, depending on the material and what has to be kept in or out. The [slope guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/fence-on-a-slope/) covers the options. ## Which side faces out The Johns Creek zoning code calls for fences along property lines to be built with the finished side facing the neighboring property (confirm with the city). On a standard privacy fence that puts the posts and rails on your side. Board-on-board and shadowbox look finished from both sides, which is one reason they are popular on shared rear lines. The [finished side guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/which-side-of-fence-faces-out/) explains how it works on corner lots. ## Gates in a privacy fence Privacy gates are heavy, because they are solid, and they catch wind like the fence does. They hang on posts set deeper than line posts, with a diagonal brace that holds the latch side up and hinges rated for the weight. A gate frame that closes flush with the fence line keeps the screening continuous. Wide openings for mowers or trailers use double gates with a drop rod. More on gates is on the [gate installation page](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/gate-installation/). ## What a privacy fence costs A 6-foot wood privacy fence typically runs about $20 to $30 per foot installed in the Atlanta area, and vinyl about $20 to $40, before gates, tear-out and the $75 Johns Creek residential permit. Taller fences, board-on-board styles, exposed lots that need heavier posts and slopes that need kickboards push toward the high end. The [fence cost guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/fence-installation-cost/) shows how a full estimate adds up. ## Privacy along shared lines Privacy fences in Johns Creek subdivisions often run along lines shared with two or three neighbors. Talking to them before the fence goes up avoids surprises: where the line sits, which side faces them, and how any old fence will be removed. A survey settles questions about the line before posts are set, and the [survey guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/survey-before-building-a-fence/) explains when one is worth it. ## What's included - Measured line, heights and site plan for the permit and HOA - Posts sized, spaced and footed for a solid fence - Boards, panels or composite infill for full screening - Kickboards or gravel strips where the ground drops away - Gates that close flush with the fence line - Cleanup and a walkthrough of the line ## Privacy fence materials compared | | Wood | Vinyl | Composite | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Typical Atlanta-area range, per foot installed | $20 to $30 (6 ft) | $20 to $40 | Priced per project | | Upkeep | Stain every few years | Wash off mildew | Wash; no staining | | Repairs | Board by board | Panel by panel if still made | By board or panel if still made | | On a slope | Racked or stepped | Usually stepped | Usually stepped | | Nearby limits | HOA style and color | No new vinyl in Sandy Springs | Check HOA and city material lists | ## Related resources 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 Which side of the fence faces the neighbor? The finished side faces out, toward the neighbor and the street. Johns Creek, Sandy Springs and Peachtree Corners all say so. Decision Guide Wood vs vinyl fence: which is better in Georgia? Wood costs less to install and repairs easily; vinyl skips staining but cracks on impact and is not allowed everywhere nearby. The right answer depends on your lot. Learn How do you build a fence on a slope? Two ways: racked, where the rails follow the grade, or stepped, where level sections drop at each post. The material and the dog usually decide which. ## From the first call to the last gate check ### First call What the fence is for, how long the line is, any HOA or pool deadline. ### Site visit and measure The line, grade, gates, trees, utilities and the soil. ### Approvals and locates HOA packet, Johns Creek permit and the Georgia 811 request. ### Installation Posts first, then rails, boards or panels, then gates. ### Walkthrough Gates swung and latched, line checked, debris gone. ## What this work looks like Tall wood privacy fence with a cap board along a rear property line White vinyl privacy fence stepping down a sloped backyard Wood privacy fence with a lattice top beside a stone patio Bottom of a stained wood privacy fence with a kickboard just above the soil Need more privacy in the backyard? Send the length of the line, the height you want and what you are screening. Call (678) 509-2926 ## Privacy fences questions ### How tall can a privacy fence be in Johns Creek? The Johns Creek zoning code limits residential fences to 8 feet from grade, with columns allowed up to 3 feet higher (confirm with the city). Many HOAs set a lower limit, often 6 feet, so check the covenants too. ### Does a taller privacy fence need stronger posts? Yes. A solid fence acts like a sail, and wind load grows with height. An 8-foot privacy fence gets heavier posts, closer spacing and deeper footings than a 6-foot one. ### Which privacy fence lasts longest? It depends on upkeep and the ground. Vinyl and composite do not rot, but crack or fade with impact and sun. Wood needs staining, and its life depends mostly on how the posts were set. Posts built for clay and drainage matter more than the board material. ### Can a privacy fence go in the front yard? Front-yard fences are often limited by HOAs, and some nearby cities restrict front-yard height, such as Sandy Springs at 4 feet for solid fences. Johns Creek keeps fences 3 feet off a public right-of-way (confirm with the city). ### What is a semi-privacy fence? A fence with small gaps, such as shadowbox or spaced boards, that blocks most views while letting air through. It catches less wind than a solid fence and can be a good fit on exposed lots. ## Related services Service Wood fences Pressure-treated pine and cedar fences in board-on-board, shadowbox, stockade and picket styles, with posts set to last in north Fulton clay. Service Vinyl fences Privacy and picket vinyl fences with reinforced gates and posts set for clay, on the lots where vinyl is allowed. Service Gates Walk, double and driveway gates hung on posts sized for them, braced to stay square and set back where the code says.