Fence and Retaining Wall Permit in Pueblo, Colorado
VerifiedFences and retaining walls in the City of Pueblo are exempt from a building permit below specific height/design thresholds per IRC/IBC Section 105.2; taller or load-bearing structures require a permit and, for retaining walls, may require engineered plans.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
When you need this permit
- Fences not over 7 feet high do not require a building permit (per IRC/IBC Section 105.2); fences over 7 feet require a permit and engineered plans
- Zoning rules may still apply to fences of any height, especially fences extending past the front of a building — check with the appropriate department before starting
- Retaining walls not over 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) are exempt from a building permit, unless the wall supports a surcharge (or, per the IBC exemption, unless it impounds Class I, II, or IIIA liquids)
- Retaining walls exceeding these thresholds, or any wall supporting a surcharge regardless of height, require a building permit and are commonly engineered
Required documents
- Required
Contractor or Homeowner Permit Application
Required only for fences over 7 feet or regulated retaining walls; submitted via SoCoBD E-Gov Dashboard, email, or fax
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — total valuation up to $500 (fences/walls requiring a permit) | $33.08 | SoCoBD Fee Table, Table B (general valuation-based schedule; no fence/retaining-wall-specific fixed fee was published) |
Review timeline
5–7 business days
Pueblo’s published plan-review target
Inspection process
- 1
Footing
Required for engineered retaining walls before backfill
- 2
Final
Completed fence/wall verified against approved plans
Tips
- A fence 7 feet or under does not need a building permit in Pueblo, but zoning rules can still apply — check before building, especially near the front of a lot.
- A retaining wall under 4 feet (footing to top of wall) is generally exempt from a permit unless it supports a surcharge or slope.
- When a permit IS required (fence over 7 ft, or an engineered/surcharged retaining wall), the submittal goes through SoCoBD residential plan review, averaging approximately one week (5-7 days) on a first-come, first-served basis. Source: SoCoBD Plan Review page, https://www.socobd.com/plan-review.php.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit to build a fence in Pueblo?
- Fences 7 feet or lower do not require a building permit, though zoning rules may still apply. Fences over 7 feet require a building permit and engineered plans. Source: SoCoBD FAQ, Work Exempt from Permit (IRC/IBC Section 105.2).
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
- Southern Colorado Building Department (SoCoBD) — official building department
- Southern Colorado Building Department (SoCoBD) — Home
- SoCoBD Fee Table (PDF)
- SoCoBD Plan Review page (residential plan review ~1 week)
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 Pueblo building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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