Unincorporated Boulder County fence rules
Do you need a fence permit in the Unincorporated Boulder County? No. Unincorporated Boulder County does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
At buildit.dog you can draw your fence on an aerial photo of your lot and check it against Unincorporated Boulder County's rules before you build. Start with your address.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- No (typical residential fence) source
- Side and rear yards
- 6 ft (building-permit exemption limit) source
- How to apply
- Email source
Still being confirmed with Unincorporated Boulder County: Do Boulder County zoning rules limit fence location or height in unincorporated areas, and is a permit needed above 6 ft?
How to build within the rules in the Unincorporated Boulder County
Steps based on bouldercounty.gov — building permit requirements b05
- Fences not over 6 ft high are exempt from a county building permit.
- Call Community Planning & Permitting (303-441-3930) or email [email protected] about zoning setbacks or fences over 6 ft.
- Call 811 before digging.
Who to contact
Community Planning & Permitting
- Phone
- 303-441-3930
- [email protected]
- Hours
- Public office: Mon, Wed, Thu 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Tue 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Address
- 2045 13th St., Boulder, CO 80302
Contact from bouldercounty.gov — building permit requirements b05
Other rules to know
- The county Building Permit Requirements page lists 'Fences not over 6 feet high' as exempt from a building permit; it does not state zoning height or setback limits.
- Location: Courthouse Annex Building, 2045 13th St., Boulder, CO 80302; mailing PO Box 471, Boulder, CO 80306.
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 Unincorporated Boulder County, CO?
No. Unincorporated Boulder County does not require a permit for a typical residential fence, but height and placement rules still apply.
How tall can a fence be in the Unincorporated Boulder County?
Side and rear yards: 6 ft (building-permit exemption limit).
Who do I contact about a fence permit in the Unincorporated Boulder County?
Community Planning & Permitting. Phone 303-441-3930, email [email protected].
Sources
Summarized from Unincorporated Boulder County's own ordinances, forms and permit pages. Each link opens the original.
Work for Unincorporated Boulder County? 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.