Minnetonka, MN Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

The Minnetonka City Council addresses fences in the general regulations for residential districts, § 300.15, subdivision 9. Paragraph (b) states that detached retaining walls, fences, patio slabs, hedges, sidewalks, driveways and similar items can occupy any part of a required front, side or rear yard setback. Driveways and roadways in the R-3, R-4 and R-5 districts are carved out and follow § 300.28, subd. 12(b)(4).

The limit that matters at corners is in paragraph (e). No wall, fence, structure, tree, shrub, vegetation or other obstruction is permitted in any yard or setback if it poses a danger to traffic by obscuring the view from a street or roadway. Visibility must be unobstructed above the height of two and one-half feet within a triangle that begins at the paved edge of the intersection. Two sides of the triangle run 25 feet along the edge of each street, and the third side connects them. The code illustrates it as Figure 22. Evergreen material sales on residential lots must also meet this sight visibility clearance under § 300.15, subd. 13(a)(5).

Paragraph (c) and (d) matter for placement. On double frontage and corner lots the required front yard setback applies on both streets, though in the R-1 and R-2 districts it can be reduced by 10 feet. Subdivision 9 prints no general height figure for fences in front, side or rear yards: the only fence height it prints is the two and one-half foot line inside the triangle. Paragraph (g) adds that nothing in the subdivision exempts a fence from the wetland, floodplain, shoreland, steep slope and tree protection requirements in sections 300.23, 300.24, 300.25, 300.28 and 314.01.