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Fence and Retaining Wall Permit in Broomfield, Colorado

Fences in Broomfield are administered by the Planning Division (not the Building Division) and require a permit above a 30-inch height threshold. Retaining walls over 3 feet in height are administered by the Building Division and require an engineer-stamped design.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Fence permit (Planning Division) required for any fence over 30 inches in height; also required for replacement/repair involving structural elements or more than 10 feet of fencing; fences under 30 inches, and minor repairs under 10 feet with no structural change, do not require a permit
  • Maximum residential fence height is 6 feet; front-yard fences are generally limited to 2.5 feet; PUD-zoned properties follow their Site Development Plan's specific fence provisions instead
  • Corner-lot fences within the sight triangle must be 3.5 feet or shorter, or at least 90% open in style (e.g., wrought iron)
  • Electrified, razor-wire, and barbed-wire fencing is prohibited on residential properties
  • Fences installed on residential property do not require an inspection
  • A site plan (acceptable formats include a Google Earth screenshot, a clear drawing, or a plot plan) illustrating the fence location must be attached to the Fence Permit Application; master fence permit applications must also attach fence detail
  • Retaining walls more than 3 feet in height (Building Division permit, not Planning) require Plans, a Site Plan, and an Engineer Stamped Report

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Fence Permit Fee (Planning Division)The Fence Permit Application PDF's own page 1 instructs applicants 'For fee valuation see following page,' and page 2 of that same PDF is a 'Building Permit Fees' schedule matching BMC 15-03-100, Table 1-A exactly (re-confirmed live 2026-07-23) — this is the governing fee table for fence permits, not a separately-published Planning Division table. Confirm current amount with Planning at 303-438-6284 if in doubt.
Valuation-based per the same BMC 15-03-100, Table 1-A schedule as other trade permits: $23.50 minimum ($1-$500), scaling to $293.25 at $17,000-$18,000, continuing above $18,000 per Table 1-A ($69.25 + $14.00/$1,000 from $2,000-$25,000, down to $4.75/$1,000 above $500,000)
Retaining Wall Permit Fee (Building Division) — valuation-based (same schedule as new construction)City and County of Broomfield Building Division Fee Schedule
$23.50 minimum ($1-$500 valuation), scaling per the published fee table; above $18,000 the codified BMC 15-03-100 Table 1-A schedule continues (e.g., $69.25 + $14.00/$1,000 from $2,000-$25,000, down to $4.75/$1,000 above $500,000)

Review timeline

Plan reviewBroomfield’s published plan-review target
1–2 business days

How long did your Fence and Retaining Wall Permit permit actually take in Broomfield?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final (retaining wall only)

    Retaining walls over 3 feet are inspected against the approved engineer-stamped design; residential fences do not require an inspection

See the full Broomfield inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Fences are handled by the Planning Division (planning@broomfield.org, 303-438-6284), NOT the Building Division — a different department, application, and email address than every other permit type in this file.
  • The Residential Fence FAQ states fence permit applications are 'generally reviewed within one to two working days' by a Planner.
  • Retaining walls are the opposite: they go through the Building Division like other trade permits, and require an engineer-stamped report once over 3 feet in height.
  • Know your zoning before applying — PUD-zoned properties follow their own Site Development Plan fence rules rather than the standard citywide fence rules; use the City's online parcel search tool to confirm zoning.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, if the wall is more than 3 feet in height — the Building Division's permit submittal checklist requires Plans, a Site Plan, and an Engineer Stamped Report for retaining walls over 3 feet. Source: City and County of Broomfield Building Division FAQ, 'What documents do I need for my permit submittal?'

In Broomfield, the published Fence Permit Fee (Planning Division) is: Valuation-based per the same BMC 15-03-100, Table 1-A schedule as other trade permits: $23.50 minimum ($1-$500), scaling to $293.25 at $17,000-$18,000, continuing above $18,000 per Table 1-A ($69.25 + $14.00/$1,000 from $2,000-$25,000, down to $4.75/$1,000 above $500,000). Additional published fees: Retaining Wall Permit Fee (Building Division) — valuation-based (same schedule as new construction) — $23.50 minimum ($1-$500 valuation), scaling per the published fee table; above $18,000 the codified BMC 15-03-100 Table 1-A schedule continues (e.g., $69.25 + $14.00/$1,000 from $2,000-$25,000, down to $4.75/$1,000 above $500,000). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Broomfield's published plan-review target for a fence and retaining wall permit is 1–2 business days.

You'll need: Fence Permit Application; Site Plan (fence). Depending on your project, Broomfield may also ask for: General Permit Application (retaining wall); Engineer Stamped Report (retaining wall). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Broomfield requires 1 inspection(s) for a fence and retaining wall permit, in order: Final (retaining wall only). Schedule each through City and County of Broomfield Building Division (Community Development Department) (303-438-6370).

Apply through City and County of Broomfield Building Division (Community Development Department) at George Di Ciero City & County Building, One DesCombes Drive, Broomfield, CO 80020. Phone: 303-438-6370, email: buildingpermits@broomfield.org. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays; payments accepted 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Over-the-counter Plans Analyst consultations available Tuesdays 9am-Noon and Thursdays 1-4pm. Chief Building Official: Tim Pate, tpate@broomfield.org. Permits cannot be submitted through the Online Portal — all permit application documents, revisions, and affidavits must be emailed to buildingpermits@broomfield.org.. Official information: https://www.broomfield.org/174/Building.

Broomfield, Colorado has adopted: Colorado is a home-rule state with NO single statewide building code — each municipality and county adopts and amends its own code edition(s). The only statewide floor requirements are energy-code related (HB22-1362, the Colorado Energy Code Board / Model Low Energy and Carbon Code process) and, for accessory dwelling units, HB24-1152 (statewide ADU standards for eligible jurisdictions). Applicants working in any other Colorado city or county must independently confirm that jurisdiction's own adopted code edition and amendments — do not assume Broomfield's editions apply elsewhere. Source: Colorado Energy Office, Colorado Department of Local Affairs.; City and County of Broomfield Ordinance No. 2295, adopted by Broomfield City Council, effective April 15, 2026: adopts the 2024 International Building Code, 2024 International Residential Code, 2024 International Mechanical Code, 2024 International Plumbing Code, 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, 2024 International Existing Building Code, and 2024 International Fire Code (2024 ICC code series), plus the Colorado Low Energy and Carbon Code (state Model Low Energy Carbon Code / MLECC amendment package). Source: City and County of Broomfield Building Code Information page and Building Division page.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — City and County of Broomfield began enforcement August 1, 2023, based on the State of Colorado's statewide NEC adoption (Colorado state law requires uniform statewide adoption of the NEC only, per the State Electrical Board). Broomfield will begin enforcement of the 2026 NEC on August 1, 2026, per the State Electrical Board's adoption schedule. Source: City and County of Broomfield Building Code Information page.; Broomfield Municipal Code (BMC) Title 15 (Building and Construction) codifies the locally-amended code editions and permit-fee authority (BMC 15-03-100); BMC Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17-32, governs accessory uses including fences (17-32-140) and accessory dwelling units (17-32-160 / 17-04-089). Source: City and County of Broomfield Building Code Information page; Municode library.; Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Code: a state-mandated model code (Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Board) that all Colorado jurisdictions must adopt by March 1, 2026 and enforce by June 1, 2026 (both deadlines confirmed on the City's dedicated 'Broomfield Voice' WUI project page, itself last updated 2026-04-15). The City's Building Division page still carries unchanged 2025-vintage text (re-fetched live 2026-07-23, identical to the 2026-07-18 and 2026-07-03 captures) stating Broomfield had not yet held its adoption hearing and was not expected to consider adoption until early 2026. The dedicated Broomfield Voice WUI page (also re-fetched live 2026-07-23, unchanged since its 2026-04-15 update) is more current and explicit: as of its last update the Wildfire Resilience Code 'has not been adopted by Broomfield,' hearing dates are 'not yet set,' and adoption-ordinance readings 'are not anticipated to occur until the second half of 2026.' Both the March 1, 2026 statewide adoption deadline and the June 1, 2026 enforcement deadline have now passed with no adoption on record on either page — Broomfield's WUI code is not yet in effect as of today. Confirm current status directly with the Building Division before relying on it. Source: City and County of Broomfield Building Division page, 'Wildland Urban Interface Code' notice; City of Broomfield ('Broomfield Voice'), '2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code' project page and its 'Key Dates' tab.. Local amendments apply — see the Broomfield overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-23.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Broomfield building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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