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Fargo, ND Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Building permit
Not required up to 8.5 ft
Front yard limit
3 ft (4 ft if 75% open)
Rear/side yard limit
6.5 ft, or 8.5 ft w/ setback
Corner lot sight triangle
Under 3 ft within 20 ft
Barbed wire
Banned below 8 ft height

Summary

Fargo doesn't require a building permit to install a fence up to 8.5 feet tall, but the Land Development Code still caps height by yard type and mandates corner-lot sight-triangle limits.

105.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following: Building: ... 2.Fences not over 8.5 feet high.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Fargo's building code (§21-0102, amending IBC §105.2) exempts fences up to 8.5 feet from a building permit: no application or inspection needed. The Land Development Code (§20-0403.B.6.c) still caps height by location: 3 feet in a front yard (4 feet if 75% see-through), 3 feet along a side yard's front-setback depth, then up to 6.5 feet in the rest of the side or rear yard, or 8.5 feet if set back 3+ feet from the line. Corner-lot fences must stay under 3 feet within 20 feet of an intersection, and barbed wire is banned below 8 feet.

Violations & Fines

No building permit is required for compliant fences, so there's no permit fee to violate, but an oversized or misplaced fence is a Land Development Code violation subject to a correction order or denial of other permits until fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Fargo?
No. Fargo Municipal Code §21-0102 (amending IBC §105.2) exempts fences up to 8.5 feet from building permit requirements, so most residential and commercial fences can go up without city sign-off.
How tall can my front-yard fence be?
Solid fences are capped at 3 feet in a front yard; a see-through fence (at least 75% light-permeable) can reach 4 feet under §20-0403.B.6.c of the Land Development Code.
Can I put up a barbed-wire fence?
Only if it starts at least 8 feet above the ground and doesn't cross the lot line. Fargo Municipal Code §10-0314 bans barbed wire below that height.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fargo

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All Fargo rules

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