Fences & Sight Distance Triangle

Overview

The City of Wheat Ridge has adopted regulations pertaining to fences, walls, hedges, and similar divisional structures installed on private property, found in Section 26-603 of the City Code.

Fences

In almost all cases, fences and walls are limited to a maximum of six (6) feet tall in side and rear yards in all zone districts (including residential, commercial, mixed-use, and industrial). Front fences are generally limited to four (4) feet tall. Within a sight distance triangle, fences are limited to 3 to 3.5 feet tall. Contact the Community Development Department to ensure your proposed fence conforms to the code. 

Building permits are not generally required for fences up to 6 feet tall, but fences must still meet all zoning code requirements for placement, height, and design. Even if a building permit is not required for a fence or wall, it is the property owner's responsibility to install improvements in accordance with City Code. 

Building permits are required for the following types of fences:

• Enclosing swimming pools or new pool + fence
• Screening trash storage areas (zoning permit only)
• Attached to commercial buildings (i.e. an extension of a building wall/façade to provide additional screening, or tied into a building)
• Retaining walls 4 feet or taller (reviewed by the Building and Engineering Divisions as part of a building permit application)
• In a floodplain (also requires floodplain permit)

Variances: Variances to fence height (i.e to request a taller fence) are discouraged as it is challenging for these types of variance applications to meet the variance criteria. For this reason, fence variances are very rarely supportable.

Sight Distance Triangle

A sight distance triangle is the area at the intersection of two streets, the intersection of a driveway and street, or the intersection of an alley and a street. In this triangular area, a clear zone must be maintained to minimize obstructions to view, which may affect the allowed height of fences and landscaping. The sight triangle is measured along the curb and gutter flow line (at the base of the curb). If no curb exists, measure along the edge of the pavement. 

• For corner lots, the size of the sight triangle is based on the type of street involved: 55 feet for arterial or collector streets and 25 feet for local or private streets.
• For alleys or driveways, both legs of the triangle are 15 feet (regardless of street type). 
• Driveways for single- and two-unit homes on local streets are exempt from sight triangle requirements. 

Resources

Planner of the Day