Fence Regulations in Loveland, CO (2026)
8 verified fence regulations for Loveland, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Loveland regulates fence and wall height in the Unified Development Code (UDC) Title 18, with the fence and wall standards located in Section 18.04.07.06 (Supplemental Standards). Height is measured under UDC 18.19.01.02.C from finished grade directly beneath the fence to the tallest element, excluding support posts or ornamental features projecting no more than 6 inches above the top. On sloping ground built in stair-step (horizontal) sections, height is measured at the midpoint of each section. Berms or mounds beneath a fence are counted toward overall height.
Loveland Fence Height Limits (Title 18 UDC)
Some RestrictionsPermit Requirements
Loveland fences and walls are reviewed by Development Services for compliance with UDC Title 18 (zoning/design) and by the Building Division for compliance with the adopted I-Codes (LMC Title 15). Loveland's adopted residential code is the 2021 IRC (LMC Chapter 15.10, effective June 1, 2023), with the City processing adoption of the 2024 I-Codes; the 2024 ISPSC was adopted at LMC Chapter 15.54 by Ordinance 6811. Under IRC R105.2 (Work exempt from permit), fences not over 7 feet high are typically exempt from a building permit; under IBC 105.2 commercial fences not over 7 feet are also exempt. UDC compliance (height, location, zoning) is required regardless of whether a building permit is needed.
Loveland Fence and Wall Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsNeighbor Fence Rules
Loveland Title 18 UDC regulates the placement and height of fences (Section 18.04.07.06) but the City does not adjudicate private boundary-fence cost-sharing disputes - those are civil matters under Colorado common law and the Colorado Fence Law (C.R.S. Title 35, Article 46). Loveland does not provide property-line surveys; property owners are responsible for establishing their own lot lines and any HOA fence rules that may further restrict installation. Construction noise from fence installation is regulated under LMC Chapter 9.50 (Noise) and standard construction-hour limits.
Loveland Neighbor and Shared Fence Rules
Few RestrictionsRetaining Walls
Loveland regulates retaining walls under the adopted I-Codes at LMC Title 15. The City has adopted the 2021 International Residential Code (LMC Chapter 15.10, effective June 1, 2023) and is processing adoption of the 2024 IBC. Under IRC R105.2 (Work exempt from permit), retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall are exempt from permit, provided they do not support a surcharge. Any retaining wall that retains a surcharge (slope, driveway, structure) requires a permit and engineered design at any height. UDC Title 18 also regulates wall location and sight-distance.
Loveland Retaining Wall Permit Thresholds
Some RestrictionsPool Barriers
Loveland adopted the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) by reference at LMC Chapter 15.54 via Ordinance 6811 (effective late 2025/2026). The ISPSC requires barriers around residential pools and spas that are at least 48 inches above grade on the outside, with no openings allowing passage of a 4-inch sphere, no horizontal members within climbable spacing on the outside face, and self-closing, self-latching gates with the latch at least 54 inches above grade (or with a locking device meeting other criteria). All electrical work must comply with NFPA 70 (Section 302.1 as amended by LMC 15.54.020.I).
Loveland Pool Barrier Rules (2024 ISPSC)
Heavy RestrictionsFence Requirements
Loveland UDC Section 18.04.07.06 governs fence and wall design; the City's Site Development Performance Standards and Guidelines (revised 12-27-17) state that fences and walls 'can be very effective for buffering and screening' but 'in excess, they can create a visually monotonous streetscape, block views from a roadway, and create a fragmented pattern of development.' Within the I-25 Corridor Sub-Area, perimeter fencing for residential subdivisions visible from I-25 must be 'of an open style, such as 2, 3, or 4 rail, split rail, wood post, or other similar style characteristic of rural areas of the Corridor.'
Loveland Fence Design and Construction Requirements
Some RestrictionsMaterial Restrictions
Loveland's Title 18 UDC, Section 18.04.07.06, regulates fence and wall materials through three defined categories - 'Solid Material Fence or Wall,' 'Limited Solid Material Fence or Wall,' and 'Opaque Fence or Wall' (UDC 18.19.03) - with the maximum allowed category and material depending on zone district, yard, and location relative to public streets. The Site Development Performance Standards discourage chain link and barbed/razor wire in residential and street-visible contexts and, in the I-25 Corridor Sub-Area, require open-style rail fencing for residential perimeters. Electric fencing is generally restricted to agricultural zones and commercial security applications subject to NFPA 70 (NEC) requirements adopted at LMC Chapter 15.54.020.I and LMC Chapter 15.08.
Loveland Fence Material Restrictions
Some RestrictionsApproved Materials
Loveland's UDC defines fence and wall categories by visual transparency in Chapter 18.19.03: 'Solid Material Fence or Wall' (no view through, e.g., wood privacy, masonry), 'Limited Solid Material Fence or Wall' (partial view), 'Opaque Fence or Wall,' and 'Hedge' (live vegetation acting as a fence). 'Fence Section' is defined as a portion or panel attached to two supporting vertical posts or one post and a building wall. Section 18.04.07.06 then ties allowed materials to zone, yard, and street-frontage location, with the I-25 Corridor Sub-Area requiring open-style rail fencing on street-visible residential perimeters.
Loveland Approved Fence Materials and Categories
Few RestrictionsLooking for Larimer County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Loveland city rules.
Fence Regulations in Larimer County →