Fence Regulations in Idaho Falls, ID (2026)
7 verified fence regulations for Idaho Falls, Idaho, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Idaho Falls's zoning code sets no general numeric height cap for residential fences. The only height rule limits fences to three feet (3') within fifteen feet (15') of a front lot line abutting a street, plus clear-view-triangle limits at corners, alleys, and driveways.
Idaho Falls Fence Height Limits
Few RestrictionsIdaho Falls City Code Title 11, Section 11-4-8(C)
Fences. No fence, wall, hedge, or other sight obscuring object or structure which is more than three feet (3') in height is allowed within fifteen feet (15') of the front yard lot line contiguous to a street.
Permit Requirements
Idaho Falls requires a fence permit before building a new fence. The city's FAQ states a $5 fence permit is required so staff can verify compliance with height and visibility rules. The review is a brief over-the-counter process at the Building Division.
Idaho Falls Fence Permits
Some RestrictionsNeighbor Fence Rules
Idaho Falls's zoning code does not assign shared-fence cost or boundary-line ownership; those are matters of Idaho state law and private agreement. The city's permit review and clear-view rules indirectly protect neighbors by keeping fences out of sight triangles near corners and driveways.
Idaho Falls Fence Neighbor Rules
Some RestrictionsRetaining Walls
Idaho Falls's zoning code contains no retaining-wall provisions. Retaining walls are regulated as building work under the city's adopted 2018 International Residential Code (City Code 7-6-1). Under the IRC, walls over four feet high (or any wall supporting a surcharge) generally require a building permit.
Idaho Falls Retaining Walls
Some RestrictionsIdaho Falls City Code Section 7-6-1(A)
International Residential Code Adopted: The International Residential Code for One and Two Family Dwellings, 2018 Edition, published by the International Code Council, Inc., including Appendix M, is hereby adopted as an official code of the City, except the portions deleted, modified or amended by the provisions of this Chapter.
Fence Requirements
Idaho Falls requires a fence permit and compliance with the zoning code's visibility rules. Key requirements include a 3-foot limit within 15 feet of a street-facing front lot line and clear-view triangles at corners, alleys, and driveways. Pool barriers must be at least 5 feet tall.
Idaho Falls Fence Requirements
Some RestrictionsIdaho Falls City Code Title 11, Section 11-4-8(D)(2)
Swimming pools shall be completely surrounded by a fence of at least five feet (5') in height with no openings wider than thirty-six (36) square inches. Gates with self-closing and self-latching devices are exempted from this provision.
Material Restrictions
Idaho Falls's zoning code does not prohibit specific fence materials such as barbed wire, razor wire, or electric fencing for general residential use. The only material-related distinction is that chain-link without slats is treated as non-sight-obscuring, and screening/buffer rules require opaque (non-chain-link) fencing in some commercial situations.
Idaho Falls Fence Material Restrictions
Few RestrictionsApproved Materials
Idaho Falls does not mandate or ban particular fence materials for residential properties. Common materials, wood, vinyl, composite, masonry, and chain-link, are generally allowed. Material matters mainly where the code distinguishes chain-link (non-sight-obscuring) or requires 'opaque' screening fences for certain commercial buffers.