Pocatello, ID Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide max height
- 7 feet
- Front setback max
- 4 feet
- Corner side setback max
- 4 feet
- Street sight triangle
- 3 ft. height, 40 ft. radius
- Alley sight triangle
- 3 ft. height, 10 ft. radius
Summary
Fences in Pocatello cap out at 7 feet anywhere in the city, but that maximum shrinks sharply near the street. No fence, hedge, or walled enclosure over 4 feet may stand in a required front setback, and the same 4-foot cap applies to certain corner-lot side setbacks. Sight triangles at street and alley corners cut the limit further, to 3 feet.
15.28.030: REGULATIONS: ... The following regulations shall apply to fences constructed within the city: A. No fence shall exceed seven feet (7') in height. ... ... E. No fence greater than four feet (4') in height may be constructed within the area designated for a front setback by the zoning ordinance adopted by the city. F. If the rear lot line of a corner lot abuts a side property line of a lot facing the side street, no fence, hedge, or walled enclosure greater than four feet (4') in height may be constructed within the area designated for a side setback. ... ... G. No fence, hedge or walled enclosure greater than three feet (3') in height above the existing centerline street elevation shall be constructed within the sight triangle formed from the point of intersection of the edges of two (2) intersecting streets in each direction for a distance of forty feet (40'). ... ... H. No fence, hedge or walled enclosure greater than three feet (3') in height shall be constructed within the sight triangle formed from the corner of the intersection with an alley a distance of ten feet (10') in each direction.
Full Breakdown
Section 15.28.030 sets a flat 7-foot maximum height for any fence built in the city, then layers on lower limits tied to setbacks and visibility. Subsection E caps fences at 4 feet within the area a property's zoning designates as its front setback, so a taller privacy fence has to step back to 4 feet once it enters that zone. Subsection F extends a similar 4-foot cap to certain corner lots: where a corner lot's rear line abuts the side property line of a lot that faces the side street, no fence, hedge, or walled enclosure over 4 feet may go up within the side setback area, and the ordinance points to a diagram in subsection I for how that plays out on the ground.
Traffic visibility drives the tightest limits. Subsection G limits fences, hedges, and walled enclosures to 3 feet above the existing street centerline elevation inside the sight triangle formed at a street intersection, measured 40 feet in each direction from where the two streets' edges meet, though the building official may approve an open chainlink-style fence up to 4 feet there if it will not create a traffic hazard. Subsection H applies the same 3-foot cap to the sight triangle at an alley intersection, but over a shorter 10-foot radius in each direction.
Subsection I's referenced diagrams cover permitted fence heights between 4 and 7 feet specifically for corner lots and lots bordering alleys, depending on which way the neighboring buildings face.
Violations & Fines
A fence that exceeds 7 feet anywhere, or exceeds 4 feet in a required front or qualifying corner side setback, or exceeds 3 feet inside a street or alley sight triangle, does not meet section 15.28.030 and is not eligible for the permit required under section 15.28.010. The building official can approve a taller open chainlink fence in a sight triangle only after finding it will not create a traffic hazard; anything else over the height caps needs a minor exception or a construction board of appeals and review decision under section 15.28.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a 7-foot fence along my front yard in Pocatello?
How is the sight triangle height limit measured at a street corner?
Does the alley sight triangle use the same rule as the street sight triangle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pocatello
How Pocatello compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Pocatello to another location·View the Idaho fence regulations overview
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