Check the plan before the material
Choose the fence once you know the permitted height and the transparency rule. That way you do not pay for a fence that has to be rebuilt.
Guide · municipal rulesFence height rules
Fence height rules
in Harju County and Tallinn
Fence height is set by the municipal or city plan, not by national law, and how see-through the fence must be often matters just as much. We have gathered the rules of Harju County municipalities and Tallinn in one table and explain how to apply them to your own plot.
Short answer
In most Harju County plans a house fence may be up to 1.5 m tall, but it often has to be partly see-through as well.
Kiili allows 1.4 m on the street side, and Loo, Liivamäe and northern Saha 1.2 m. Saku, Keila and Maardu require at least 25% transparency, and Saue generally allows no opaque fence at all. If your plot has a valid detailed plan, that plan comes first.
The law
Where fence height rules come from
The plan decides, not the law
Under § 12 of the Building Code, a structure must comply with the plan: if your plot has a detailed plan, that plan applies, and if not, the general plan does. The law sets no single fence height, so height, transparency and often the material come from the municipal or city plan.
Harku and Viimsi have put their fence rules in a thematic plan, and in Tallinn's milieu-value areas (miljööala) the city adds its own guidance.
How height is measured
Unless the plan says otherwise, a structure's height is its greatest vertical dimension from the ground immediately around it to the highest point of its highest part. For a fence this means post tops and caps count too, not just the panel or boards. Minor local dips and bumps in the ground are ignored. We explain the rule for slopes below.
When you need a building notice
If building the fence or gate involves digging deeper than 30 cm, you need a building notice and a design. The notice is filed in the Building Register at least 10 days before work starts. There is more in our fence permit guide.
Sources: Building Code (Ehitusseadustik), Regulation on technical data of structures, Building Code, Annex 1, Harku thematic plan, Viimsi thematic plan, Tallinn, fences in milieu-value areas.
Municipalities
Rules by municipality and in Tallinn
| Area | Height | Transparency and material | Other rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harku MunicipalityHarku thematic plan, Harku Municipality, structures, 30.03.2026 | Mesh or partly transparent timber fence at a detached, semi-detached or terraced house up to 1.5 m. Taller only under a detailed plan or a building-permit design. | Solid close-boarded fences are banned, except as noise barriers or around industrial sites. Timber fences are preferred for timber houses. | The fence must stand at least 2 m from the road surface edge so snow can be cleared. |
| Viimsi MunicipalityViimsi thematic plan, Viimsi, building | Up to 1.5 m around a house. Around an apartment block only if a detailed plan allows, up to 1.0 m. | Solid plank fences only around industrial or traffic areas as a noise or safety barrier. Timber fences are recommended for timber houses. | Fences on foundations, solid masonry fences or fences over 1.5 m need a design. At least 2 m from the road surface edge. No fences outside the plot or on the shore path. The municipality's website says double fences are not allowed. |
| Rae Municipality, northern part (incl. Peetri)Rae northern area general plan | Up to 1.5 m on residential land. Between semi-detached or terraced units, a hedge or up to 1.0 m. | A solid fence up to 1.8 m only as a noise barrier where noise exceeds the limits. Materials should match the house and neighbouring fences. | Apartment plots may not be fenced. Gates must not open onto the road. Driveways 3.5–5 m wide. |
| Saue MunicipalitySaue general plan | Generally up to 1.5 m in built-up areas, up to 2 m in sparsely populated areas. | Opaque fences of any material are generally not allowed. The exceptions are fences around industrial areas and noise or safety barriers by traffic areas. | Generally at least 2 m from the road surface edge. No fences outside the plot. Generally no fences on town-centre land. |
| Saku MunicipalitySaku general plan | Up to 1.5 m above ground on family and terraced-house land. Up to 2 m in sparsely populated areas. | At least 25% transparent; on family and terraced-house land this does not apply to hedges. Solid fences only where justified against noise or dust. | Fences are generally not planned on apartment-block land. In wildlife-crossing restriction zones a fence must not block animal movement. |
| Kiili MunicipalityKiili general plan | Up to 1.4 m on the street side. Mesh up to 1.6 m between plots. | A partly transparent timber fence on the street side. Solid plank fences are banned except around industrial buildings for noise and security. | On a large plot the fence may enclose just the built-up area. |
| Jõelähtme: Loo, Liivamäe, northern Saha and NehatuLoo, Liivamäe, Saha and Nehatu general plan | In Loo, Liivamäe and northern Saha, up to 1.2 m on detached and semi-detached house land. | At least 10% transparent. | For terraced houses the fence is set in the detailed plan. No fences on family-house land in Nehatu village. These are general-plan conditions for preparing detailed plans. |
| MaarduMaardu general plan | Street fence up to 1.5 m in low-rise housing areas. | At least 25% transparent. Fences between plots must be see-through. | Neighbours agree the height and material of the fence between their plots. |
| KeilaKeila general plan | Generally up to 1.5 m on residential land. About 1.4 m in the historic centre. | At least 25% transparent per running metre. No opaque wall over 1.5 m on the street side. A hedge may be taller. | Fences between plots by neighbours' agreement, and over 1.5 m only with that agreement. No fences outside the plot or around apartment blocks unless a detailed plan allows. On a listed monument and in its protection zone, agree the fence with the National Heritage Board. |
| Tallinn, NõmmeNõmme district general plan | Up to 1.5 m, following neighbouring fences. | Generally a sparse, see-through timber picket fence or mesh combined with a hedge. Mesh is fine between plots. Hedges generally up to 1.5 m. | No fences inside a plot. Special designs need written consent from the Urban Planning Department or the district architect and the neighbour. On a corner plot, consider a setback or a more transparent fence. |
| Tallinn, milieu-value areasTallinn, fences in milieu-value areas, 11.04.2024 | Street fences generally 1.2–1.5 m, close-boarded fences 1.5–1.8 m, following neighbouring plots. | Mesh and welded-panel fences are not considered suitable. As an exception, mesh may be considered between plots, never on the street side, if a dense hedge or climbers hide it completely. | Whether mesh can be used, and how much, is decided case by case. The fence and gates must suit the historic character of the area. |
Checked on 27 September 2026 against the plans and municipal websites. The table shows general rules: if your plot has a valid detailed plan, that plan applies. In Rae we checked only the northern area general plan (from the Tallinn border to the Kurna stream and the Tallinn ring road, including Peetri). For other municipalities and Tallinn districts, see their plans.
Step by step
How to find and read the rules for your plot
The table gives the overall picture; your plot's plan gives the final answer.
1. Find the right document
Find out whether your plot has a valid detailed plan: it will be in the municipality's or city's planning register or map application, and in Tallinn in the Tallinn planning register. If there is none, the general plan applies, with any thematic plan that refines it.
In Tallinn, check on the city's map whether the plot lies in a milieu-value area. In these areas the city recommends starting from the fence in the house's original design, usually kept in the Urban Planning Department's archive.
2. Look in the right places
Fence rules usually sit in the part of the explanatory report on architecture, boundaries or landscaping. Plans are in Estonian, so look for “piirdeaed” (fence), “piire” (boundary structure), “läbipaistvus” (transparency) and “kõrgus” (height). The drawing may also show the building line and a setback from the street.
3. Tell the street fence from the boundary fence
Many plans set different rules for the street side and for the boundary between plots. Kiili allows a partly transparent timber fence up to 1.4 m on the street side but mesh up to 1.6 m between plots, and in Keila and Maardu the fence between plots depends on the neighbours' agreement. Our guide to a boundary fence with a neighbour explains how to put that in writing.
4. If something is unclear, ask in writing
Send the municipality's planning or building officer a short question with the address, planned height, material and a photo, and keep the reply. In Nõmme a special design needs written consent from the Urban Planning Department or the district architect and from the neighbour.
On a listed monument or in a heritage conservation area, building needs a National Heritage Board permit. In their protection zones the municipality agrees the notice with the Board, and if no notice is needed, the Board must be told at least 10 days ahead.
Sources: Building Code (Ehitusseadustik), Tallinn, fences in milieu-value areas, Kiili general plan, Keila general plan, Maardu general plan, Nõmme district general plan, Heritage Conservation Act.
Transparency
How transparency is judged
What the percentage means
Transparency is the share of the fence's visible surface that is open. In Saku, Keila and Maardu it must be at least 25%, and in Loo, Liivamäe and northern Saha at least 10%. Keila's plan measures it per running metre.
How to work it out for a picket fence
Divide the gap between pickets by the picket width plus the gap. With 8 cm pickets and a 4 cm gap, transparency is 4 / 12, about 33%. With a 2 cm gap it drops to 20% and no longer meets a 25% rule. Posts and rails reduce the open area slightly, so leave some margin.
Nõmme's general plan recommends a gap of 1/3 to 1/2 of the picket width so the fence does not read as a solid wall. A gap of one third of the picket width gives about 25%.
Double-sided picket fences
A double-sided, staggered picket fence lets wind through but looks almost solid from straight on. Nõmme allows it as a special solution along busy streets. Where your plan requires transparency, ask the municipality before ordering one.
Privacy from a hedge
Where the fence must be see-through, a hedge gives privacy. Saku's transparency rule on family and terraced-house land does not apply to hedges, and in Keila a hedge may exceed the fence figures. Nõmme, however, generally limits hedges to 1.5 m.
Sources: Saku general plan, Keila general plan, Maardu general plan, Loo, Liivamäe, Saha and Nehatu general plan, Nõmme district general plan.
Slopes
Fence height on a sloping plot
What the regulation says
On sloping ground, height is measured from the arithmetic mean of the lowest and highest ground level immediately around the fence. If the ground at one end of a section is 40 cm higher than at the other, height is measured from the average level, 20 cm above the ground at the lower end.
Stepped or raked
Rigid panels are usually stepped on a slope, which leaves a triangular gap under the downhill end of each step, where the fence stands taller. Roll mesh, timber and picket fences can also be raked, so the top follows the ground and the height stays even.
We recommend keeping every section within the permitted height, measured from the ground beside it. That way there is no argument even if someone measures the fence at its least favourable point.
Posts, plinths and gates
Post tops, caps and a plinth, where it is part of the fence, all count towards the height. The gate and gate posts belong to the same fence, so keep them within the permitted height too, unless the plan says otherwise.
If the ground level differs on your side and your neighbour's, measure from both sides. Discuss a fence on top of a retaining wall with the municipality first, as the total height seen from the neighbour's side may exceed the limit.
Fence types
Which fence fits the rules
In Kiili the street side must be a partly transparent timber fence, and in Nõmme it is generally sparse timber pickets or mesh with a hedge, so metal and panel fences suit those places better between plots. Prices are from our price guide and include materials and standard installation.
3D and 2D mesh panels
A mesh panel fence is see-through and fits most plans in the table; choose a panel height that keeps the whole fence, gap and post tops included, within the limit. Welded panels are not considered suitable in Tallinn's milieu-value areas. A 3D mesh panel fence costs €35–60/m and the stiffer 2D panel €50–85/m.
Roll mesh / chain-link
Mesh is see-through and the least expensive option at €25–45/m. It works well on side and rear boundaries, because several plans, such as Kiili's and Nõmme's, allow mesh between plots. On the street side, combine it with a hedge where the plan expects one.
Steel picket fence
How see-through a steel picket fence is depends on the gap, which you choose. A single-sided layout with a sensible gap usually meets 25% easily; a double-sided staggered layout does not always. It costs €85–155/m.
Welded metal-bar fence
A welded metal-bar fence stays see-through on the street side, so it suits plans that require an open fence when you want a sturdy, representative look. It costs €140–280/m; in a milieu-value area its design must also suit the historic surroundings.
Timber fence
A partly transparent timber fence is the preferred option in several plans: Harku and Kiili name it directly, and Viimsi recommends timber fences for timber houses. A solid close-boarded fence is allowed in Harku, Viimsi and Kiili only as an exception, such as a noise barrier. A timber fence costs €90–160/m.
Profiled-sheet fence
Profiled sheet is opaque, so it does not work where the plan requires transparency. Saue generally allows no opaque fences, and northern Rae allows a solid fence up to 1.8 m only as a noise barrier. Before ordering a privacy fence, get the municipality's confirmation. It costs €70–135/m.
Sources: Kiili general plan, Nõmme district general plan, Harku thematic plan, Viimsi thematic plan, Saue general plan, Rae northern area general plan, Tallinn, fences in milieu-value areas.
Our advice
What we recommend
Leave some height in reserve
We recommend staying a few centimetres below the permitted height. Ground moves with frost, caps add height, and a small margin avoids arguments.
Privacy from a hedge
Where the plan requires transparency, a see-through fence with a hedge planted behind it works well. The fence stays within the rules and the hedge gives privacy as it grows.
Road edge and snow
If your plot borders a road, check the distance from the road surface in the table and read our guide to fences near roads and utilities. A fence right at the road edge gets in the way of snow clearing.
Common problems
What often goes wrong
Copying the neighbour's fence
An old fence may predate the current plan or rest on a special agreement. A new fence must meet today's rules.
A solid fence where transparency is required
A profiled-sheet or plank fence goes up where the plan requires transparency, and it may have to be rebuilt.
Measuring only the panel
Caps, a plinth and the gap underneath are left out, and the finished fence ends up taller than allowed.
The gate opens onto the street
A leaf opening towards the street gets in the way of traffic and snow clearing. Check whether your plan allows it at all.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Up to 1.5 m in most of the plans we checked. Kiili allows 1.4 m on the street side, and Loo, Liivamäe and northern Saha 1.2 m. Saue and Saku allow up to 2 m in sparsely populated areas.
At least a quarter of the fence's visible surface must be see-through, and Keila measures this per running metre. On a picket fence, a gap of about one third of the picket width achieves it. 3D mesh panels and metal-bar fences are see-through; a solid profiled-sheet or plank fence is not.
Generally not. In Viimsi, Harku and Kiili a solid plank fence is allowed only as an exception, for example as a noise barrier or around an industrial site, and in Saue the same restriction covers any opaque fence. In northern Rae a solid fence up to 1.8 m is allowed as a noise barrier where noise exceeds the limits.
Unless the plan says otherwise, height is measured from the ground immediately around the fence to its highest point, post tops included. On a slope, the mean of the lowest and highest ground level is used. We recommend keeping each section within the limit, measured beside it.
Not necessarily. Your neighbour's fence may predate the current plan or rest on a special agreement, while a new fence must meet today's rules. Check your plot's plan or ask the municipality.
Check your plot's detailed plan and the municipality's general plan, or ask the planning officer for a written answer. At the site visit we help you take the rules into account when choosing the fence.
Checked on 27 September 2026. This guide is not legal advice: check the current requirements before work starts.
We choose a fence that fits the plan
At the site visit we account for the permitted height, transparency and the road edge, and suggest a suitable solution.