Privacy Fence Planning
A privacy fence uses board-on-board or tight-butted pickets with no gaps between them, creating a solid visual barrier. Standard height is 6 feet — most residential codes allow up to 6 feet in rear and side yards without a variance. Front yard fences are typically limited to 3–4 feet.
Privacy fence pickets are usually 1×6 (actual 5.5 inches wide) dog-ear boards installed with no gap, or 1×4 boards in a board-on-board pattern that overlaps each board by 1 inch. Board-on-board uses about 50% more pickets but creates a fence that looks good from both sides and allows air flow while blocking sightlines.
Wind load is the biggest structural concern for privacy fences. A solid 6-foot fence acts like a sail in high winds. Posts should be set a minimum of 24 inches deep in concrete (deeper in areas with high winds or soft soil), and post spacing should not exceed 8 feet for 6-foot fences.