A building permit is required to build a fence over 6 feet high in unincorporated Boulder County, and for a fence of any height inside a 100-year floodplain. Over-6-foot fences must meet zoning setbacks and may need engineered footing plans.
Under Boulder County's P/28 Fence Requirements, fences taller than 6 feet require a building permit and must meet the setback requirements for the parcel's zoning district. Fences over 6 feet may require footing and foundation plans prepared and stamped by a professional engineer. Regardless of height, any proposed fence in a 100-year floodplain requires a Floodplain Development Permit (FDP) from the Boulder County Transportation Department. Retaining walls are not considered fences and follow separate structural (International Building Code) standards. All work applies only to the unincorporated county; residents in Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, or other municipalities must consult their city.
Constructing an over-6-foot or floodplain fence without the required permit is a code violation; the county may require removal, retroactive permitting, and impose enforcement penalties.
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