Fort Collins, CO Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

11(C) of the Transitional Land Use Code sets Fort Collins' fence and wall height limits by location on the lot. Between the front building line and the front property line, and anywhere in the front yard or in a side yard setback that falls within the front yard, a fence or wall cannot exceed four feet, unless the property demonstrates a unique security need. Inside a required rear yard setback, or a side yard setback located in the rear yard, fences can go up to six feet.

7(G)(1), fences cannot exceed 42 inches, and any fence between 32 and 42 inches within that triangle must be split rail construction with at least 12 inches between horizontal members so drivers can still see through it. Fences must also stay at least two feet back from a public sidewalk, and alley-facing fences need a three-foot or eight-foot setback from the alley lot line depending on how far back the alley-accessed garage door sits. Fence height is measured from the top of the fence to the finished grade as it existed when the fence was built, and any berm or wall added just to boost a fence's effective height counts as part of the fence for these limits.

These standards applied to fence and wall installations reviewed under the Transitional Land Use Code, the version Fort Collins used before its current Land Use Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 055, 2024, took effect May 17, 2024.