Boulder, CO Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

C. 1981, sets Boulder's baseline height rule: any individual fence, wall, hedge, or combination of them located within three feet of each other on the same property is capped at a maximum of seven feet, measured from the finished grade directly beneath it. A fence built on a berm or mound has to include the berm's height above natural grade in that measurement, and the code specifically bars modifying the grade just to increase a fence's effective height; if the city manager finds evidence of grade manipulation, the fence height is judged against the functionally equivalent unaltered grade.

Several exceptions raise the cap: a fence or guard up to forty-two inches may sit on or within three feet of a retaining wall regardless of the combined height; a fence, wall, or hedge on or within three feet of a property line may reach twelve feet if the abutting owners jointly agree and the height measured from the highest grade within three feet of the line does not exceed seven feet; athletic facility fencing such as tennis courts may reach ten feet if everything above seven feet is at least fifty percent non-opaque; and noise barriers along designated major streets may exceed seven feet with city manager approval as part of a comprehensive noise barrier system.

Separately, Subsection (b) requires every fence and wall to stay off the property line without an abutting owner's agreement and keeps fences at least eighteen inches back from any public sidewalk. Temporary construction-site fencing is exempt from the height cap for the duration of construction.