New Fence Installation in Franktown, CO

A fence in Franktown sits on a Douglas County parcel, reviewed under the county’s Zoning Resolution rather than a town ordinance. Height, setback, and sight-distance rules come from that resolution, and a pool or spa on the property adds a separate, code-driven barrier requirement on top of the general fence rules. We plan a Franktown fence around the parcel’s specific district and lot lines rather than around a neighbor’s existing fence line.

Height and the Street-Setback Rule

Douglas County’s Zoning Resolution limits solid fences, walls, and hedges to 6 feet in height generally, and to 4 feet when the fence sits within the required setback from a street. A building permit is required for any fence or wall over 6 feet, and separately for any retaining wall over 4 feet. Open fencing, such as woven wire or ornamental iron that is at least 80% open, can be built with no height limit under the zoning rule, though a permit may still apply above 6 feet. We have not found a further breakdown into separate front, side, and rear height numbers beyond this street-setback distinction, so we confirm exact placement against the parcel’s platted setback lines rather than assume a fixed side or rear figure.

Sight Triangles Need a County Check, Not a Guess

The county’s Zoning Resolution general provisions address that a fence or freestanding wall must not obstruct visibility at street intersections. We were not able to confirm the exact sight-triangle dimensions or solidity percentage from the county’s own published text in this research pass, so we do not assume a specific triangle length or open-percentage figure for a Franktown corner lot. Where a fence run approaches a street corner, driveway, or intersection, we confirm the applicable sight-distance standard with Douglas County Planning before setting posts, rather than copy a number that might apply to a different jurisdiction.

Utility Locates and What They Do Not Cover

Before any post hole is dug in Franktown, we request a utility locate through Colorado 811. That locate identifies member utility lines, but it does not find every private line on a rural or large-lot Franktown parcel: irrigation lines, low-voltage lighting, private gas lines, drainage piping, and owner-installed wiring can all sit outside the 811 locate. We treat an unmarked area as unconfirmed rather than assume it is clear, and we look for irrigation heads, control wire, and drainage features on the walk before digging starts.

Easements and Drainage Stay Functional

A recorded utility or drainage easement can cross a Franktown side or rear yard even where it looks like ordinary lawn. A fence across that corridor may need a gate, a removable panel, or another accommodation so the easement holder can still reach it, and a solid fence run should not block drainage swales or sheet flow that the property depends on. We check recorded easement conditions before finalizing a fence line, not after posts are set.

Pool Barriers Are a Separate, Code-Driven Requirement

If the fence is meant to serve as a pool or spa barrier, Douglas County’s adopted swimming pool and spa code references the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, Section 305, for barrier requirements. That is a different standard from the general zoning fence-height rule above, and meeting the 6-foot general height limit does not by itself satisfy a pool barrier requirement. We were not able to confirm the specific gate height, latch height, and opening-size figures from the county’s own document in this research pass, so we confirm the current Section 305 barrier dimensions and gate hardware requirements with the Building Division before finalizing a fence that doubles as a pool enclosure.

Front Range Clay and Post Stability

Douglas County’s soils are documented as expansive in the county’s own guidance on foundations and slabs, and that same soil behavior affects fence post stability over freeze-thaw cycles. We grade for drainage away from post locations, avoid trapping water against footings, and treat visible heave, settlement, or persistently wet soil along a proposed fence line as a reason to look closer before setting posts in that spot.

How We Sequence a Franktown Fence

We start with the parcel’s zoning district, platted setback lines, and any recorded easements, then lay out the proposed run against those boundaries rather than an existing neighboring fence. Where the run approaches a corner or intersection, we confirm the sight-distance requirement with Planning before finalizing the layout, and where a pool or spa is involved, we confirm the current barrier code requirements separately from the general fence-height rule.

Colorado 811 is contacted before any digging, and we walk the site for private lines and drainage features the locate ticket will not mark. Posts are set to account for the area’s expansive soil and grading needs, gates are sized to swing, latch, and drain properly, and the completed fence is reviewed against the confirmed layout before we call the project closed.

Common Questions

How tall can I build a fence on my Franktown property?
Douglas County’s Zoning Resolution generally limits solid fences to 6 feet, and to 4 feet within the required street setback. A permit is required above 6 feet for a fence or wall, and above 4 feet for a retaining wall. Open fencing that is at least 80% open can go higher under the zoning rule, though a permit may still apply.

Does my fence need to account for sight distance on a corner lot?
Yes. Douglas County’s zoning provisions state that a fence must not obstruct visibility at street intersections, but we could not confirm the exact triangle dimensions from the county’s own text, so we verify the current sight-distance standard with Planning before finalizing a corner-lot layout.

Does a 6-foot fence around my pool meet Douglas County’s pool barrier rule?
Not necessarily. Pool and spa barriers follow the county’s adopted 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, Section 305, which is a separate standard from the general zoning fence-height rule. We confirm the current barrier height, gate, and latch requirements with the Building Division before finalizing a pool-enclosure fence.

Do I need to call 811 before installing a fence in Franktown?
Yes, before any post holes are dug. A Colorado 811 locate marks member utility lines but does not identify every private line, such as irrigation, low-voltage wiring, or owner-installed gas or drainage lines, so we also walk the site for those before digging.

Talk to Us About Your Project

Tell us the approximate fence line, gates, and purpose, whether it is a yard boundary, a pool enclosure, or a screen, along with any HOA, drainage, or utility concerns you already know about. We will outline the zoning and sight-distance steps involved for your Franktown property.