Douglas County, CO Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger, fence/wall
- Required once height exceeds 6 feet
- Permit trigger, retaining wall
- Required once height exceeds 4 feet
- Open-fence exception
- 80% open fence still needs permit over 6 feet
- Issuing office
- Douglas County Building Division
- Governing section
- Zoning Resolution § 1-715, Subsections 1 & 3
- Cure period
- 10 days after written notice
Summary
In unincorporated Douglas County, a fence or wall needs a county building permit only once it passes six feet, or four feet for a retaining wall. A standard backyard privacy fence under that height can go up without Planning Division sign-off, as long as it stays out of the public right-of-way and clears the setback and visibility rules in § 1-715.
Fences, walls, or hedges shall not be erected in the public right-of-way, but shall be allowed within the setbacks, on private land. A building permit is required for any retaining wall greater than four feet in height or any fence or wall greater than six feet in height, or as required by the Building Code, as amended and adopted by Douglas County. ... Fences constructed of woven wire or ornamental iron which are a minimum of 80% open may be constructed with no height limitation; however, a building permit is required for any fence greater than six feet in height, or as required by the Building Code, as amended and adopted by Douglas County.
Full Breakdown
Douglas County Zoning Resolution § 1-715(1) triggers a building permit any time a residential fence or wall passes six feet in height, or a retaining wall passes four feet. Section 1-715(3) extends the same six-foot trigger to open, woven-wire or ornamental-iron fencing: that style is exempt from the underlying height cap because it is at least 80% open, but the county still requires a building permit once it crosses six feet, just as a solid fence would. Fences and walls under those thresholds are built without a county permit, but they are not unregulated: § 1-715 still bars placing them in the public right-of-way, requires four-foot solid fences within a street setback, and requires the fence not obstruct traffic sightlines under Subsection 4.
Permit applications for qualifying fences and retaining walls are processed by the Douglas County Building Division against the Building Code as amended and adopted by the county, meaning a wall over four feet, or a fence over six, must also meet the structural and inspection standards of that code, not just the zoning dimensional limit. Building without the required permit is a chapter violation under § 1-113 subject to the general zoning penalties, and the county can require the work be pulled down and re-permitted or removed entirely if it does not conform.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a fence or retaining wall over the permit thresholds without county sign-off is a violation of the Zoning Resolution under § 1-113, carrying a $100 civil infraction and a separate civil penalty of $500 to $1,000 under § 1-114, plus a continuing fine of up to $100 for each day the unpermitted structure remains. § 1-115 requires Planning Services to give written notice and at least 10 days to cure before those penalties are pursued, and the county may also seek an injunction ordering the structure altered or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a 6-foot backyard fence in Douglas County?
What about a retaining wall, does it need a permit at a lower height?
Does an open wire or iron fence still need a permit if it's over 6 feet?
What happens if I build a fence over the limit without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Colorado fence regulations overview
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