Elko County, NV Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Elko County Code § 4-8-8(A) lets fences, walls and hedges occupy any yard area in unincorporated Elko County, Nevada, and sets two height limits. Except as otherwise provided, no fence, wall or hedge can exceed six feet. In a required front yard, in the required street side yard of a corner lot, or in that part of the rear yard of a corner lot which abuts the required front yard of a key lot, the limit drops to three and one-half feet. The section controls corner lots through the street side yard limit. The word "wall" does not cover the wall of a building or the supporting portion of a retaining wall.

The required yard depths come from the district chapters. In an R1 district, § 4-3-2(E) requires a front yard of 20 feet, a rear yard of 20 feet, a side yard of 10 feet along the street lot line of a corner lot, and 5 feet along an interior side lot line, so the three and one-half foot limit applies inside those distances.

Subsection (B) lists exceptions. The height limits do not apply where a greater height is required by another ordinance, allowed by a variance, or specified in connection with a conditional use. A protective fence enclosing public property, an open area for games or a swimming pool is not subject to the limits if it is built of wire or steel mesh capable of transmitting at least ninety percent light.

Subsection (C) says height is measured from the finished level of the ground beneath the fence on the premises required to provide it. Where a fence or hedge rises directly above a retaining wall along a lot line, or above, parallel with and within four feet of such a wall, the permitted height of a fence not required by the title is reduced by one-half the height of the supporting portion of the retaining wall, but never to less than three feet.

An employee decision under the zoning title can be appealed in writing to the Planning Commission within ten days under § 4-9-3. The cities of Elko, Carlin, Wells and West Wendover have their own fence rules.