El Paso County, CO Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit threshold
- fences/walls over 7 feet
- Issuing office
- El Paso County Building Dept
- Under 7 feet
- no permit required
- Over 7 feet
- meets accessory structure setbacks
Summary
Fences and walls up to 7 feet tall need no permit in unincorporated El Paso County, but anything taller requires a building permit from the County Building Department.
A fence or wall over 7 feet in height requires a building permit from the Building Department.
(2) Fences and Walls 7 Feet in Height Considered Accessory Structure. A fence or wall over 7 feet in height is considered an accessory structure and shall meet the accessory structure setback requirements of this Code. If no accessory structure setbacks are established by this Code, the principal structure setbacks are applicable.
(3) Fences and Walls Not to Disrupt Drainage. The fence and wall shall not be established where it would impede the drainage established by an approved drainage plan.
(4) Fences and Walls Not to Disrupt Use of Easement. The fence or wall shall not be established within an easement in a manner where the use of the easement is unnecessarily impeded.
(E) Specific Fence Standards for Residential Zoning Districts. The following requirements are applicable to fences within residential zoning districts.
(1) Opaque Fence Height Limited in Front Yard Setback Area. Fences or walls more than 25% opaque shall not exceed 30 inches in height when located within any front setback area.
(2) Corner Lots. Any side of a property from which driveway access from the road is gained shall be considered a front setback area.
(3) Opaque Fence Height Limited in Sight Triangle. An opaque fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed 30 inches in height when located within a sight distance triangle or as otherwise limited by Chapter 2 of the ECM.
(F)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 3 | Drainage Criteria Manual: Publication | Engineering Criteria Manual: Supplement 3 | Ordinances: Reformat).
Full Breakdown
Under LDC § 6.2.1(D)(1), any fence or wall over 7 feet in height requires a building permit from the Building Department. Once a fence tops that 7-foot line, § 6.2.1(D)(2) also reclassifies it as an accessory structure, meaning it must meet the same setback requirements that apply to sheds, garages, and other accessory buildings on the lot rather than the lighter fence standards.
Violations & Fines
Building an unpermitted fence over 7 feet can draw a PCD notice of violation requiring correction within 14 days before further enforcement under LDC § 11.3.2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in unincorporated El Paso County?
What changes once a fence is taller than 7 feet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso County
Compare El Paso County to another location·View the Colorado fence regulations overview
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