Do Fences Reduce Highway Noise?

What helps

• Mass
• No gaps
• Height
• Close to the source or listener

Related: Board-on-board fences.

Charlotte’s noisy edges

Homes along I-77, I-85, I-485, Independence Boulevard and busy roads like Providence, Albemarle and Wilkinson deal with constant traffic noise. Some also sit near freight rail or the airport’s flight paths.

Realistic expectations

A fence won’t make a highway silent. A well-built solid fence can make a noticeable difference in a back yard by blocking the direct path of sound, especially for tire noise, and it can make the noise feel less intrusive because you no longer see the traffic.

Building for sound

• Mass: dense wood, double layers or composite
• No gaps: board-on-board, sealed bottoms and tight gates
• Height: as tall as allowed (generally 6 feet in side yards, up to 8 in an established rear yard with a permit)
• Continuity: gaps at gates and corners leak sound

Add-ons

Acoustic blankets or panels can be mounted to the yard side of some fences. Evergreen plantings add a little reduction and a lot of visual screening. Water features can mask remaining noise.

Check the right-of-way

Highway rights-of-way are often wide. Confirm your line before building; state right-of-way along major roads is off-limits.