Cheyenne, WY Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit-exempt height
- 6 feet or less
- Over 6 feet
- building permit required
- Zoning front-yard cap
- 4 feet (UDC 5.8.4)
- Enforced by
- Building Safety Department
Summary
Cheyenne exempts fences six feet tall or shorter from building permit requirements under its locally amended International Building and Residential Codes, so most residential fences go up without a permit application.
Section 105.2, work exempt from permit, subsections 1. and 2. under the heading "building" are amended to read as follows:1.One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 200 square feet.2.Fences not over 6 feet high. Remaining sections under the heading "building" contained within Section 105.2 remain unchanged.
D.Section 107.1 is amended by the addition of a second paragraph to read as follows: Drainage plans shall be submitted for all building permit applications for all new commercial construction. Drainage plans shall be prepared by a Wyoming Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) or Professional Land Surveyor (P.L.S.). Drainage plans shall indicate, with drainage arrows, the drainage patterns for the site. Drainage away from the structure shall be in conformance with this code. Site grading and drainage shall conform to the approved grading or drainage plan for the subdivision where the site is located. All drainage easements on the lot shall be shown on the drainage plan. All FEMA-regulated floodplain or city-delineated special flood hazard area boundaries shall also be shown on the drainage plan. No variation from the approved grading or drainage plan for the subdivision where the site is located will be granted an exception, except by written authorization from the city engineer or his designated representative.
Full Breakdown
The City of Cheyenne's amended International Building Code lists "fences not over 6 feet high" as work exempt from a building permit under IBC Section 105.2, and the same exemption is written into the amended Residential Code at Section R105.2. That means a homeowner can build or replace a fence at or under 6 feet without pulling a permit from the Building Safety Department. A fence taller than 6 feet does require a building permit. Separately, the Unified Development Code's zoning standards still cap most residential front-yard fences at 4 feet and side/rear fences at 6 feet, so the permit-exempt height and the zoning height limit line up for a typical lot.
Violations & Fines
Building a fence over 6 feet without first obtaining a building permit is unpermitted construction; the Building Safety Department can require the permit be obtained or the work corrected to code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fence in Cheyenne?
How tall can a front-yard fence be in Cheyenne?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cheyenne
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