Fences not over 7 feet tall are exempt from building permit requirements. However, if the fence will be located in a floodplain, wetland, or will be constructed in a historic district or on a property designated as an individual landmark, then other processes are required before the fence can be built.
- A floodplain development permit is required for new and replacement fences in the floodplain.
- A wetland permit is required for new and replacement fences in a wetland.
- A landmark alteration certificate is required to build or alter fences constructed in a Historic District or on a property designated as an individual landmark.
Application Requirements
- Site Plan (drawn to scale)
- North arrow
- Property lines
- Location of public street(s) and sidewalks
- Locate inside the property line and a minimum of 18 inches from any public sidewalk.
- Must maintain a 10 foot radius of clearance around all fire hydrants per D.C.S. 5.10(A)(5).
- Must comply with B.R.C. 1981 8-6-8(c) if located in an easement.
- Construction Details (drawn to scale)
- May not have barbs or sharp points, or be electrically charged.
- Maximum area of solid fencing material between posts shall not exceed 30 square feet unless designed per B.R.C. 1981 10-5-2(mm) Section 9902.
- Retaining walls more than 3 feet in total height (measured from top of wall to bottom of footer) and retaining walls of any height located on slopes 15 percent or greater must be designed by a Colorado licensed engineer.
- Fences may not exceed 7 feet in height.
- Must maintain a minimum of 3 feet of unrestricted access on three sides of a water meter pit and must be at least 1 foot behind the meter on private property.
- May not obstruct the sight triangle of intersecting public rights-of-way or the driveway to street.
- Fences located directly on the property line must include a notarized agreement with the affected neighbor, recorded with the Boulder County Clerk & Recorder's Office.
- Posts shall be set in concrete a minimum of 24 inches below grade.
- Posts shall be a minimum of 4" x 4" (nominal) wood approved for ground contact or naturally resistant to decay. Chain-link fence posts shall be a minimum of 1-1/2 inches in diameter.
- Identify materials and total length.
