Fence Installation Permits in Denver

Local Rule

Denver Community Planning and Development; Denver Zoning

Denver requires a zoning permit for any fence over 4 feet; fences at or under 4 feet do not need one. Except in industrial areas, front-yard (primary-street-facing) fences are capped at 4 feet and backyard fences at 6 feet; industrial areas allow 7 feet within the setback and 10 feet outside it. A building permit is also required above 4 feet for most fence types, but post-hole dug fences only need a building permit once they exceed 8 feet. Masonry walls and retaining walls over 6 feet need commercial engineering plan review and a building permit. All fences must stay at least 6 inches back from the public sidewalk regardless of the property line.

Source · Verified September 2026

Denver Building Department

Hours and procedures can change — call ahead to confirm.

How This Compares to Denver County

Denver's own rule is shown above (No permit under 4 sqft). Here is the separate rule that applies at the county level, for context:

City and County of Denver

In Denver a front-yard fence up to 4 feet needs no permit, a back or side fence over 4 feet needs a zoning permit (up to 6 feet), and anything over 6 feet needs an over-height permit. A permit is required regardless of height in a historic district, along a designated parkway, or for a pool barrier, and corner lots have sight-triangle limits.

See the full county page

Nearby Cities with Verified Rules

Other cities near Denver with a confirmed fence installation rule:

FAQs

Building It Yourself? Here's What You'll Need

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