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Fence / Retaining Wall Permit in Cañon City, Colorado

Required for new and replacement fences in Cañon City, per the City's own 'What requires a permit?' FAQ, subject to specific height/setback rules under Chapter 17.20.080 of the Zoning Regulations. Retaining walls over 4 feet in height (footing bottom to wall top) also require a permit; shorter walls are exempt unless supporting a surcharge.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Permit required for fences (new and replacement), per the City's own FAQ
  • Fence height limits (Chapter 17.20.080): up to 6 ft along sides/rear up to the front setback line; up to 48 inches (must be at least 50% open) along sides/front within the front setback; vision clearance along streets must be maintained
  • Barbed wire and electric fences are NOT allowed in residential zone districts
  • Fences erected for public safety, health, and welfare purposes must be reviewed and approved by the City Engineer and City Administrator
  • Retaining walls NOT over 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) do NOT require a permit, UNLESS supporting a surcharge

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (valuation-based)No fence/wall-specific flat fee is published; likely calculated via the good-faith-estimate method given fences are unlikely to have a BVD-table average cost — not explicitly confirmed for this permit type
1.0% of valuation, per Resolution No. 20, Series of 2024

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Fence / Retaining Wall Permit permit actually take in Cañon City?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Inspection

    Height and setback/right-of-way compliance verified

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

Tips

  • Fence height rules in Cañon City are two-tiered: full 6 ft is allowed outside the front setback, but only a 48-inch, at-least-50%-open fence is allowed within the front setback — plan your fence design around where the front setback line actually falls on your lot.
  • Barbed wire and electric fences are flatly prohibited in residential zones — don't assume a rural-style fence is allowed just because a property has a large lot.
  • Retaining walls up to 4 feet are generally exempt, but the exemption is void if the wall supports a surcharge (e.g., a driveway or additional load above it) — confirm with the Building Department if your wall does more than simple grade retention.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The City's own FAQ lists fences (new and replacement) among residential projects requiring a permit, subject to the height and setback rules in Chapter 17.20.080 of the Zoning Regulations.

In Cañon City, the published Building Permit Fee (valuation-based) is: 1.0% of valuation, per Resolution No. 20, Series of 2024. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Cañon City does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Cañon City Building Department at 719-276-5253 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (Online Services Portal); Site Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Cañon City requires 1 inspection(s) for a fence / retaining wall permit, in order: Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Cañon City Building Department (719-276-5253).

Apply through City of Cañon City Building Department at 128 Main Street, Cañon City, CO 81212. Phone: 719-276-5253, email: Kathy Ulsh (Certified Building Official) and Susanne Rave (Permit Technician II) — see City of Cañon City Building Department contact page for current email addresses. Office hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (the building opens to the public at 8:00 a.m.; staff are available by phone only from 7-8 a.m.). Inspections may be scheduled 24 hours a day by calling 719.276.5292.. Official information: https://www.canoncity.org/176/Building-Department.

Cañon City, Colorado has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — City of Cañon City Building Department page, confirmed still the currently adopted edition as of this review (effective date of the 2018 Code adoption: January 1, 2021, per the City's own '2018 International Codes' page; adopted December 2020); 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — City's own '2018 Energy Code Requirements' handout describes IRC Chapter 11 (N1101-N1106) compliance paths (Prescriptive, Simulated Performance, Energy Rating Index) for Climate Zone 5, effective January 1, 2021; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2018 International Residential Code (IRC); 2018 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC); 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC); Climatic & Geographic Design Criteria for Cañon City, CO under the 2018 IRC and 2018 IBC (PDF, revised June 22, 2026): Ground Snow Load 30 psf; Wind Speed 100 mph (Risk Category II per the Residential Design Criteria table; the Commercial Design Criteria section of the same document separately states basic design wind speeds of VULT=115 mph/VASD=90 mph for Risk Category I, VULT=126 mph/VASD=100 mph for Risk Category II, and VULT=139 mph/VASD=110 mph for Risk Category III or IV — both the Residential and Commercial tables appear on the same official document without an explicit reconciliation note, so both are reported here as published); Seismic Design Category B; Frost line depth 27 inches; Weathering: Severe; Termite: Slight to Moderate; Ice Barrier Underlayment: Not Required; Flood Hazards per FEMA Flood Maps / Cañon City Municipal Code (CCMC) Title 21; Commercial ground snow load 30 psf (ASCE 7-16, increased by importance factor 1.10 for Risk Category III / 1.20 for Risk Category IV); Flood hazard areas established per 'The Flood Insurance Study for Fremont County, Colorado and incorporated areas,' dated July 3, 2012, as amended, with the accompanying FIRM and FBFM maps, adopted by reference (IBC Section 1612.3, per the Climatic & Geographic Design Criteria document). Local amendments apply — see the Cañon City overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-06.

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 Cañon City building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Fence / Retaining Wall Permit in other cities

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