When it comes to building a fence, Denver has strict regulations. Whether you’re using a residential fence company or a commercial fence company, you have to keep Denver’s fence regulations in mind before planning and starting the construction of a fence on your property.
The requirements necessary to begin building are dependent on many factors such as the type of property it will be on, the location, the height of the fence, and even the construction materials.
Going through the motions to apply and be approved for fence construction can be a pain in the neck, however building a fence that violates the city’s regulations, or building the fence without a permit, will mean tearing down the fence, which is a big waste of time and money. Here are some Denver fence regulations to keep in mind while planning your next fence project.
What affects your fence being built?
Before you get your permit and start building your fence, it’s important to understand reasons that Denver may not allow you to build it. There are quite a few factors that come into play when the city decides to grant or deny a permit.
HISTORIC LANDMARKS
One of the first things to consider is if your fence is a historic landmark. Changing the exteriors of properties that have a historic landmark status have to be reviewed by the Landmark Preservation staff. No permits are permitted until the review is done.
ZONING LAWS
Zoning also comes into play for a permit. Your fence design must be in compliance with the Denver Zoning Code. Every neighborhood has its own zoning district, so looking up your neighborhood on their site will give you more information about what’s allowed on your property. Parkways in certain areas can sometimes affect your permit if your project intrudes into a specific parkway, so be sure to research this as well.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The location of both sewer lines and utilities can also bring the approval of your permit to a halt. If you want to build your fence over or within two feet of a sanitary sewer, you have to replace that sewer. You also need to be aware of where your utilities are located as you cannot build over the existing utilities. You can contact a plumbing contractor to find out where your sewer lines are, and call 811 to have the underground utilities on your property marked.
What restrictions are there?
To get the approval of your new fence, you need to keep in mind not only what could halt building your fence, but what actually requires a permit. In Denver, the building of a structure over the height of four feet must have a permit. Your fence can’t be built on property that is in the public right-of-way (like on your sidewalk).
Here are a few zoning restrictions to keep in mind when designing your fence:
- Front yard fences must get an over-height fence permit if it is more than four feet high.
- If a backyard fence is between four and six feet only a zoning permit is required, but if it’s taller than six feet, an over-height fence permit required.
- A building permit, as well as a zoning variance from the Board of Adjustment, is required if the fence is called than eight feet high.
FACTOR IN PERMIT COSTS
While building a fence doesn’t have to be extremely costly, it’s important to factor in permit fees into your budget.
Related article: Denver Fence Pricing
WHAT PERMITS ARE NEEDED?
Although generally, you’ll need to get a zoning or building permit for your fence to be built, depending on the location and property it is on, you may need other permits as well. If your project is in a designated historic district, is on a historic landmark, if it will impact street trees, or if it encroaches on a parkway or public right-of-way, you’ll need to get more specific permits in order to continue with your plan.
Consulting a Denver residential or commercial fencing company will be the easiest and clearest way to move forward in building your new fence since they’re already familiar with neighborhoods, codes, and fees. A company can give you insight on your design and will be able to help you understand Denver fence regulations so that the planning process for your new fence goes smoothly and quickly.
