Arvada, CO Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front/street-side height cap
- 3 ft (Table 4-7-2-1)
- Rear/interior side height cap
- 6 ft (Table 4-7-2-1)
- Transparency height bonus
- 4 ft if 50%+ open
- Street flowline setback
- 8 ft (10 ft if over 8 ft tall)
- Fence permit
- Required except repairs ≤8 linear ft
- Max penalty
- $2,650 fine and/or 180 days jail
Summary
Arvada caps fences and divisional walls at 3 feet in front and street-side setbacks and 6 feet in rear and interior side yards for most residential districts under Land Development Code Table 4-7-2-1, with bonus height for transparent or sidewalk-set-back fences. Every fence needs a City permit except short repairs, and no fence may block the intersection sight triangle required by Section 4-4-3-3.
C.Height. All fences and divisional walls shall comply with the maximum heights shown in the following Table 4-7-2-1, Maximum Height of Fences and Divisional Walls Within Required Setback Areas, unless a different maximum height is explicitly permitted...D.Location. All fences and divisional walls may encroach into required yards and setbacks. Fences and wall shall not:...2.Conflict with sight distance visibility of intersections or points of ingress/egress;...E.Setbacks from Streets, Sidewalks, Open Space, Trails, and Multi-Use Pathways.1.No solid fence or divisional wall that is between four and eight feet in height shall be installed closer than:a.Eight feet from the flowline of a street; andb.Five feet to the nearest edge of a sidewalk, open space corridor less than 15 feet wide, trail, or multi-use pathway....6.Fences shall comply with the sight triangle requirements of Section 4-4-3-3, Intersection Visibility.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Council Policy Manual: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67).
Full Breakdown
Table 4-7-2-1 sets three measurement zones under LDC Section 4-7-2-1(C): Area 1 (front yard), Area 2 (street side yard) and Area 3 (rear and interior side yard). In the OS, RA, RN, R6, R13, R24, MX-N and CN districts, the base limit is 3 feet in Areas 1 and 2 and 6 feet in Area 3. A footnote lets the front or street-side height grow to 4 feet if the fence is at least 50 percent transparent, or to 6 feet regardless of opacity if the fence sits back at least 6 feet from the sidewalk; divisional walls facing an arterial street may reach 8 feet.
The Olde Town (OT) district is more restrictive at 3 feet on all three sides, rising to 4 or 6 feet only for school yards, single-family/duplex/multiplex lots, or outdoor dining, and never near McIlvoy Park or Olde Town Plaza. Industrial fences run higher: 6 feet in every yard in the IL district and 6/8/8 feet in the IG district. Section 4-7-2-1(B) requires a fence permit for every fence or divisional wall except repairs of a section no longer than 8 linear feet. Section 4-7-2-1(D) bars fences from blocking sight distance at intersections or driveways, diverting drainage, or crossing utility easements without written consent, and Section 4-7-2-1(E) adds hard setbacks: solid fences 4 to 8 feet tall must sit at least 8 feet from the street flowline and 5 feet from a sidewalk, trail or open space corridor, rising to 10 feet and 8 feet for fences over 8 feet tall.
Vehicular gates near a street must be set back at least 18 feet and cannot swing outward. 6 folds in the separate intersection sight-triangle standard of Section 4-4-3-3.
Violations & Fines
Building or maintaining a fence that exceeds Table 4-7-2-1 or lacks the required permit violates the LDC under Section 10-1-2-1(A)(1) and (4). The City can issue a stop-work order, deny future permits, or prosecute the property owner under Section 10-1-2-3, which sets a misdemeanor fine up to the Section 1-5 cap of $2,650 and/or up to 180 days in jail, with each day the fence remains a separate offense once the 14-day cure notice in Section 10-1-3-2 expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a backyard fence be in Arvada?
Do I need a permit to install a fence in Arvada?
What is the sight triangle rule for fences near intersections?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arvada
How Arvada compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Arvada to another location·View the Colorado fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle height limits.