Fence and Retaining Wall Permit in Grand Junction, Colorado
VerifiedFences and retaining walls in Grand Junction are regulated by height under Mesa County's building-permit exemption thresholds; taller fences and retaining walls require a Mesa County building permit, and City of Grand Junction zoning setbacks separately apply.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
When you need this permit
- Fences under 7 feet tall from grade do NOT require a building permit (per Mesa County's 'No Permits Required' notice, 2018 code-cycle basis)
- Fences 7 feet tall or taller DO require a Mesa County Building Department permit
- Retaining walls under 4 feet tall do NOT require a building permit
- Retaining walls 4 feet tall or taller DO require a Mesa County Building Department permit
- City of Grand Junction zoning setbacks apply to fences and walls regardless of building-permit status — check the City's residential zoning district setback reference (bit.ly/GJResidentialSetbacks, as cited in the City's ADU Worksheets document) or contact City Community Development for the specific zoning district
Required documents
- Optional
Application for Permit to Build
Mesa County Building Department application form, required only for fences 7 ft+ or retaining walls 4 ft+
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fence/Retaining Wall Permit Fee — valuation-based | $50.00 minimum (up to $1,200 valuation), scaling per Table 2 Permit Fee Schedule | Mesa County Building Department Fee Schedule, Table 2; applies only to fences 7 ft+ tall or retaining walls 4 ft+ tall |
Review timeline
Not published
Grand Junction does not publish a plan-review timeline — contact the building department for current turnaround.
Inspection process
- 1
Footing
Required for engineered retaining walls 4 ft+ before backfill; specific inspection-code detail for fences/walls was not separately published on Mesa County's Residential Inspection Request Guidelines and should be confirmed with the Building Department
- 2
Final
Completed fence/wall verified against approved plans
Tips
- The 7-foot (fence) and 4-foot (retaining wall) thresholds come from Mesa County's building-permit-exemption notice, which is dated to the '2018 ICC code adoption' cycle — confirm current applicability with the Building Department if your project is borderline.
- Because the City of Grand Junction retains zoning authority even though Mesa County issues the building permit, a fence or wall that doesn't need a building permit may still need to comply with City zoning setbacks — check the City's residential setback reference before installing.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit to build a fence in Grand Junction?
- Fences under 7 feet tall from grade do not require a Mesa County building permit. Fences 7 feet or taller do require one. Regardless of the building-permit threshold, City of Grand Junction zoning setbacks still apply. Source: Mesa County 'Items that DO NOT REQUIRE a Building Permit' notice.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
- Mesa County Building Department (Community Development Department) — official building department
- Items that DO NOT REQUIRE a Building Permit (PDF) | Mesa County
- Mesa County Building Department Fee Schedule (PDF)
- ADU Worksheets (PDF, cites residential setback reference) | City of Grand Junction
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 Grand Junction building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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