Fence and Retaining Wall Permit in Elko, Nevada
VerifiedFences and retaining walls in Elko are regulated by height and material, per the City's Fence Permit Requirements handout and Municipal Code Title 2, Chapter 2, Appendix O (Fences, Walls and Retaining Walls). Most residential wood/vinyl/chain-link fences at or under 6 feet 6 inches do not require a building permit, but Planning and Zoning setback rules always apply.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
When you need this permit
- No building permit required for a fence (any material), including decorative trim, at or under 6 feet 6 inches (6'6") in overall height, that does not rest on a retaining wall — Planning and Zoning regulations still apply regardless of permit requirement
- Building permit IS required for: fences over 6'6" tall constructed of wood, vinyl, chain link, or similar materials
- Building permit IS required for: fences/walls 4 feet or higher (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the fence) constructed of block, brick, stone, rock, or similar materials
- Building permit IS required for: any fence supported by a retaining wall where the combined height reaches 6 feet (per the Building Department FAQ) or 6 feet 6 inches (per the City's Fence Permit Requirements handout — the two City sources give slightly different combined-height thresholds; confirm the current figure with the Building Department) measured from the bottom of the retaining wall footing to the top of the fence
- Contact the City of Elko Planning Department at 775-777-7162 if building a fence in front of the home, or if the property is on a corner lot
- Full regulatory detail is codified in City of Elko Municipal Code Title 2, Chapter 2, Appendix O (Fences, Walls and Retaining Walls)
Required documents
- Required
Building Permit Application Form
Universal City of Elko permit application, submitted via the E-Permits portal, required only for fences/walls exceeding the height/material thresholds above
- Required
Site Plan
Required showing fence/wall location relative to property lines, particularly for corner lots or front-yard fences requiring Planning Department review
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fence/Wall Building Permit Fee — Table 11 per-square-foot valuation by material | Chain Link $1.00/sq ft; Ornamental Iron $2.00/sq ft; Block $4.50/sq ft; Brick/Stone $5.00/sq ft; Concrete $4.00/sq ft; Wood/Vinyl $3.00/sq ft; Retaining Wall $5.00/sq ft | City of Elko Building Permit Fees, Table 11 Miscellaneous Square Foot Construction Costs/Valuation (fees are in addition to the permit processing fee) |
| Minimum charge per permit (Processing Fee $40 + minimum Permit Fee $47) | $87.00 | City of Elko Building Permit Fee Schedule |
Review timeline
Not published
Elko does not publish a plan-review timeline — contact the building department for current turnaround.
Inspection process
- 1
Footing
Required for engineered retaining walls and block/brick/stone fences 4 feet or higher, before backfill
- 2
Final
Completed fence/wall verified against approved plans and Municipal Code Title 2, Chapter 2, Appendix O
Tips
- No fence/retaining-wall-permit review timeline is published by the City of Elko. The Building Department FAQ's only stated turnaround (6-8 weeks first review) is explicitly scoped to 'Residential Permits for new construction'; the Fence Permit Requirements handout, Building Department main page, Building Forms page, and Building Permit Fee Schedule publish no turnaround figure for fence/wall permits. Nevada is a home-rule state with no statewide statutory plan-review clock, and Elko Municipal Code 2-1-5 sets no fixed review-duration clock — its only timing provision (2-1-5(N)) requires the permit to be issued within ten (10) days AFTER the submittal is approved and fees are paid, a post-approval issuance clock rather than a plan-review turnaround. Confirm current turnaround directly with the Building Department at (775) 777-7220.
- The Building Department FAQ and the City's separate 'Fence Permit Requirements' handout state slightly different combined-height thresholds (6' vs 6'6") for fences supported by retaining walls — verify the current figure with the Building Department at (775) 777-7220 or Planning at 775-777-7162 before finalizing plans.
- Corner-lot properties and fences built in front of the home always require contacting the Planning Department (775-777-7162), independent of the building-permit height thresholds.
- Planning and Zoning setback regulations apply to ALL fences regardless of whether a building permit is required.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a permit required to put up a fence in Elko?
- A permit is not required if the overall height of the fence, including all components such as decorative trim, does not exceed 6 feet 6 inches at any point and the fence does not rest upon a retaining wall. Planning and Zoning regulations apply whether or not a building permit is required. Source: City of Elko Building Department FAQ and Fence Permit Requirements handout.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
- City of Elko Building Department — official building department
- Frequently Asked Questions | City of Elko
- Fence Permit Requirements (PDF) | City of Elko
- Building Permit Fee Schedule (PDF) | City of Elko
- City Codes (amlegal) | City of Elko
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 Elko building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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