Fence Regulations in Duluth, MN (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Duluth, Minnesota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
In the City of Duluth, a fence between the house and the front property line can't top four feet, or six feet if it's an ornamental material like wrought iron that's at least 50 percent open with an approved zoning permit. Side and rear yards in residential districts allow fences up to eight feet under § 50-26.4(A).
Duluth Fence Height Limits by Yard
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 50-26.4(A)(1)(a), (A)(3), (A)(4)
(a) No fence or wall located between the principal structure on a lot and the front property line shall exceed four feet in height. If a fence is constructed with an ornamental material, such as wrought iron, a six foot high fence may be allowed with an approved zoning permit provided that the fence is at least 50 percent open or transparent; ... ... 3. Residential zone districts. The maximum h...
Fence Permit Requirements
In the City of Duluth, any fence taller than four feet needs an approved zoning permit before construction, and no fence of any height may be built in a dedicated public right-of-way without a concurrent use permit, under § 50-26.4(A)(7) of the Unified Development Chapter.
Duluth Fence Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 50-26.4(A)(7)
7. Permit required. No fence shall be constructed in dedicated rights of way without a concurrent use permit. Any fence that exceeds four feet in height is required to have an approved zoning permit prior to construction;
Retaining Walls
In the City of Duluth, a new retaining wall visible from a street or a neighboring property must be terraced if it's over six feet, capped at three tiers with four-foot planting terraces between them, and can't be built of railroad ties, timber, or gabion, except walls serving only one- or two-family homes are exempt under § 50-26.4(B).
Duluth Retaining Wall Design Standards
Some RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 50-26.4(B)(1)-(2)
B. Retaining walls standards. 1. Applicability. The requirements of this Section apply to construction of new retaining walls in all districts, except for (a) retaining walls on proper-ties containing only one-family and two-family dwellings, and (b) retaining walls that will not be visible from neighboring sites or from a public street frontage; 2. Design standards. All retaining walls shall c...
Material Restrictions
In the City of Duluth, front-yard fences can't be chain link, electrically charged, barbed or razor wire, or temporary plastic snow fencing, though vinyl-coated chain link up to four feet is allowed with a zoning permit. Side and rear yards citywide ban electric and barbed/razor wire fencing except for gardens and bona fide farms under § 50-26.4(A).
Duluth Prohibited Fence Materials Rule
Significant RestrictionsDuluth Legislative Code § 50-26.4(A)(1)(b)-(c), (A)(2)
(b) Chain link fences, fences that are electrically charged, fences constructed of barbed or razor wire and fences constructed of temporary plastic fencing (snow fences) are prohibited. A durable, vinyl-coated, chain link fence, no more than four feet tall, may be allowed with an approved zoning permit; (c) Prohibitions on electrically charged fences shall not apply to fences used to protect ga...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Duluth city rules.
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