Fence Installation Permits in Reno

Local Rule

City of Reno Community Development, Building Safety

The city's own Planning FAQ confirms directly that a building permit is required for all fences, with no height exemption, under Reno Municipal Code Chapter 14.18. This is stricter than the general Nevada pattern many secondary guides assume (an exemption under 6 feet), which does not apply to the City of Reno specifically. Post embedment depth, footing type, and footing size must be documented for any fence over 6 feet. Building permit requirements are handled separately from zoning, setback, or plat requirements, which are confirmed independently through the Planning division.

Source · Verified September 2026

Reno Building Department

Hours and procedures can change — call ahead to confirm.

How This Compares to Washoe County

Reno's own rule is shown above (Permit required). Here is the separate rule that applies at the county level, for context:

Washoe County Community Services Department, Building Divisi

A residential fence is exempt if it does not exceed 30 inches in the front yard setback or 6 feet outside of it. A 6-foot fence is not permitted at all within the front yard setback, fences there over 4.5 feet (up to 30 inches remaining exempt) need a building permit. Distinctively, wire fences under 58 inches are exempt on parcels larger than 2 acres, and a permit is required regardless of height if the fence is needed for screening or serves as a swimming pool barrier.

See the full county page

Nearby Cities with Verified Rules

Other cities near Reno with a confirmed fence installation rule:

FAQs

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

Popular tools and materials homeowners use for a fence installation project:

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