Arvada, CO Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Section 4-7-2-2(B) caps a retaining wall at 4 feet, or 6 feet where the wall is attached to a principal building and the extra height is necessary to compensate for a change in grade. 2 requires a series of low walls, none exceeding 4 feet. 3 if an alternative design still achieves the article's stated purpose: avoiding large, flat, unbroken wall planes and creating texture, relief and human-scale detailing compatible with the surrounding architecture. Subsection C requires a railing at least 42 inches tall along the top edge of any retaining wall wherever the wall creates a downward vertical drop of more than 30 inches within 4 horizontal feet of a sidewalk, walkway, or other public circulation area, to keep pedestrians from falling over the edge.

Subsection D limits construction materials to dry-stacked stone; decorative pre-cast concrete masonry units (glazed, textured or split-face); masonry block faced with stone, brick or stucco; cast-in-place concrete with aesthetic surface treatments or integral color; or Director-approved gabion walls. Treated timber and railroad ties are barred except on lots with a single-family detached dwelling, and even there the Director can waive the materials list if the wall is effectively screened from view or an alternative material offers equal or better quality, durability and maintenance characteristics.