Lakeville, MN Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

City Code § 11-21-5(A) sets a two-tier approval structure for fence construction citywide. Zoning administrator approval, processed under the administrative permit procedure in § 11-8-5, is required for any fence under seven feet in height that sits within a front yard, within a yard subject to the buffer yard requirements of § 11-21-9(E), or along a property line. A full building permit, rather than administrative approval, is required once a fence reaches seven feet or taller, reflecting the added structural review that height triggers under the building code.

Subsection A3 carves out an exemption: fences built on a farm for agricultural purposes, as the title defines agriculture, need neither the administrative approval nor the building permit. Once a fence is approved, subsection B requires the applicant to confirm the property lines, either by locating existing property irons or, if the corners cannot be found, through a survey by a registered land surveyor or a recorded agreement with the adjoining owner. All fences and their footings must sit entirely on the private property covered by the approval, may not extend into a public right-of-way, and if placed within a drainage or utility easement must not impede water flow; the city can require removal and relocation at the owner's expense if it needs the easement. The Planning and Community Development Department administers these approvals alongside the separate height, material, and setback standards found later in the same section.