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permit.guide
Adams County, Colorado

City of Thornton fence permit

Do you need a fence permit in the City of Thornton? Not confirmed. Contact the City of Thornton before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.

buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Thornton (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes. Start with your address.

Quick facts

Permit required
Not confirmed source
Side and rear yards
6 ft source
Front (street) yard
4 ft (front yard) source
Corner lots
No separate corner height; fences over 2 ft 6 in not allowed in visibility triangles source
Distance from lot line
Fences allowed on or within property lines; City does not verify property line locations. Parallel fences need at least a 5 ft gap. source
Not allowed
Chicken wire, wafer/particle board and plywood along any property line or required setback visible from a public street; plastic netting or mesh (except construction, street maintenance, traffic control). source
How to apply
Call 303-538-7295

Still being confirmed with Thornton: Does City Development require a building permit for a 6 ft fence that is not in a sight triangle?

Plan your fence and build the applicationLook up your address, draw the fence on an aerial photo of your lot, and get a site plan and filled-in application.

How to file for a fence permit in the City of Thornton

  1. Call City Development to confirm whether your fence needs a building permit.
  2. Check whether your lot is in a Planned Development or sight triangle.
  3. Call 811 before digging.

Who to contact

City Development

Phone
303-538-7295
Email
[email protected]

Contact from thorntonco.gov — residential fence information

Other rules to know

  • Residential Fence Information page says a building permit from Building Inspection is required for a new fence or for repairing/replacing one; a separate City knowledge-base article says a building permit is required only for fences over 7 ft and fences within a sight triangle. The two conflict.
  • Up to 8 ft allowed in select locations (side/rear along arterial or regional thoroughfares) with additional approvals.
  • Planned Development districts may have different rules.

Before you dig

Call 811 before digging post holes so underground utility lines are marked. Find your lot corner markers and keep the fence on your side of the line. Find your lot corner markers and keep the fence on your side of the line. County parcel maps can be off by several feet; if you're not sure where the line is, a licensed land surveyor can stake it.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build a fence in the City of Thornton, CO?

Not confirmed. Contact the City of Thornton before you build; the rules below are what we found in the ordinance.

How tall can a fence be in the City of Thornton?

Side and rear yards: 6 ft. Front (street) yard: 4 ft (front yard). Corner lots: No separate corner height; fences over 2 ft 6 in not allowed in visibility triangles.

How close to the property line can I put a fence in the City of Thornton?

Fences allowed on or within property lines; City does not verify property line locations. Parallel fences need at least a 5 ft gap.

How do I apply for a fence permit in the City of Thornton?

Call City Development to confirm whether your fence needs a building permit. Check whether your lot is in a Planned Development or sight triangle. Call 811 before digging. buildit.dog can turn a fence drawn on an aerial photo of your lot into a complete permit application package for the City of Thornton (site plan, aerial photo and filled-in details) in a few minutes.

Who do I contact about a fence permit in the City of Thornton?

City Development. Phone 303-538-7295, email [email protected].

Sources

Summarized from the City of Thornton's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.

  1. thorntonco.gov — residential fence information
  2. thorntonco.qscend.com — 725

Work for the City of Thornton? Help us keep this right

If anything on this page is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it. Municipal staff reports are reviewed first. Please include a link to the current ordinance, form or fee schedule if you can.