La Plata County, CO Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

In unincorporated La Plata County, Colorado, Section 70-17.VI sets the material and design standards for fences and walls used for buffering. Fences, walls and other landscaping features can be required as a condition of development approval where needed for compatibility, protection of occupants, safe use of a parcel, or to buffer between differing land uses (70-17.I).

The materials rule is subsection VI.J: fences shall be made of traditional fencing materials, including but not limited to wood pickets, wrought iron, wire, chain link, and block. One material is barred in one setting: chain link fencing, with or without slats, shall not be used as a fencing material for buffering purposes adjacent to residential development. Subsection VI.I adds that fences and walls shall be opaque, non-reflective, and not more than eight (8) feet high, with height measured from the top of the fence or wall to the finished grade of the lot directly under it.

Design rules follow. Exposed structural framework faces the interior of the property being developed (VI.A). Where fencing or walls exceed one hundred (100) feet along collector or arterial roads, features such as brick or stone columns, varying alignment or setback, or plantings of shrubs or trees must avoid a "tunneling" effect (VI.B). No fence or wall can obstruct visibility at access points (VI.C), and III.J bars any fence, wall or other sight obstruction from encroaching on the required sight distance at intersections. To the maximum extent feasible, fences and walls must be wildlife friendly and not ensnare or injure wildlife, and any fence or wall enclosing one (1) acre or greater shall allow safe passage of wildlife (VI.D).

The code prefers natural buffers over fences, and subsection III.E says fences can be acceptable where space or the land use does not lend itself to a more natural buffer. Separately, the county's amended building code section 105.2, printed in Sec. 18-35, lists "Fences not over 8 feet high" among work exempt from a building permit.