What's Required in Minneapolis
- Every fence needs zoning review and approval, whether or not a building permit is required.
- Fences over 7 feet and pool barrier fences of any height need a building permit with plans and a site plan.
- No fence may exceed 8 feet in height anywhere on the lot.
- Fences in the required front yard are limited to 4 feet and must be less than 60 percent opaque.
- Rear lot line fences are limited to 6 feet; interior side fences are 4 feet unless a 6-foot condition is met.
- No fence may be built within 15 feet of a street or alley intersection or block a fire hydrant.
- The finished side must face the adjacent property or public right-of-way.
- Use no more than two related fencing materials; slatted chain link and chicken wire are prohibited.
Do you need a permit for a fence in Minneapolis?
Not a building permit, for most fences. Construction Code Services says fences up to 7 feet high do not require a building permit but must comply with zoning, and Minnesota Rules 1300.0120 exempts fences not over seven feet high. What every fence does need is zoning: the city's fence handout says all fences require review and approval by zoning. Two kinds of fence do need a building permit with plans: a fence over 7 feet high, and a pool barrier fence of any height. Since the zoning code caps every fence at 8 feet, the over-7-foot permit only covers fences between 7 and 8 feet.
How tall can a fence be in Minneapolis?
Chapter 550, Article X of the zoning code sets the limits by yard. In the required front yard a fence can be 4 feet and must be open, decorative or ornamental, less than 60 percent opaque. In the corner side yard the limit is 4 feet, rising to 6 feet from the rear wall of the house to the rear lot line. In the interior side yard the limit is also 4 feet, but 6 feet is allowed if the fence is at least 5 feet from the neighbor's building, if the whole fence is open design, or between the rear wall of the neighbor's house and the rear lot line. Along the rear lot line the limit is 6 feet. A fence outside the required yards but within 5 feet of a public street or sidewalk is capped at 6 feet, and no fence anywhere may exceed 8 feet.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-yard privacy fence up to 6 ft | No building permit; zoning approval | Article X height limits apply |
| Front-yard fence up to 4 ft, open design | No building permit; zoning approval | Must be less than 60 percent opaque |
| Solid interior side fence over 4 ft | Zoning approval | 6 ft only if 5 ft from the neighbor's building or behind their rear wall |
| Fence over 7 ft (8 ft maximum) | Building permit with plans | Valuation fee, 65% plan review, state surcharge |
| Pool barrier fence, any height | Building permit with plans | At least 4 ft, self-closing and self-latching gates |
| Fence near a street or alley intersection | Not allowed | No fence within 15 ft of the intersection |
| Fence projecting onto public right-of-way | Encroachment permit first | Section 550.1520 |
How much does a fence permit cost in Minneapolis?
For a fence of 7 feet or less there is no building permit fee. The zoning fee table in Section 525.230 has no line for fence review, so ask Minneapolis Development Review how zoning approval is given on your project. For a fence over 7 feet the building permit is priced on the job value, labor and materials included: $104.20 for the first $2,000 plus $20.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction, with an $84.20 minimum. Because the city reviews a construction plan and site plan, add a plan review fee of 65% of the permit fee, plus the state surcharge of 0.0005 times the value. A $3,000 fence over 7 feet comes to $104.20 + $20.60 = $124.80, plus $81.12 plan review and $1.50 surcharge, for $207.42.
What materials and placement does zoning allow?
Fences must be wood resistant to decay, metal, brick, masonry or other materials made for permanent fencing, with no more than two types in one fence. Chain link with slats, chicken wire, railroad ties and electrically charged wire are prohibited, and vinyl-coated chain link counts as open, decorative fencing. The finished side must face the neighbor or the street. You are responsible for locating your property lines, and no fence may block access to a fire hydrant.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Minneapolis
Find your property lines
Locate the property boundary monuments or hire a land surveyor; fence location is the owner's responsibility.
Check height for each yard
Compare each fence run against the front, corner side, interior side and rear limits in Chapter 550, Article X.
Confirm zoning approval
Contact Minneapolis Development Review at 311 or 612-673-3000 to confirm how zoning approval is given for your fence.
Apply if over 7 feet or a pool barrier
Email the building permit application, then upload the construction plan and site plan through ProjectDox.
Build and inspect
Permitted fences need construction inspections, including a final inspection; zoning inspects as its rules require.