Aurora Fence Permit and Zoning Rules

Get the permit first. Build second. Where the fence sits on your lot decides how tall it can be and how open it has to be.

Front yards carry the tightest limits. Side yards on narrow lots, the street side of corner lots, and fence lines that meet a driveway each have their own rules. Chain link is not allowed in a front yard or along any right-of-way. A fence that closes in the whole lot needs at least one gate to the house. A fence that is part of a pool barrier has to be finished and pass inspection before the pool is filled.

Open ornamental metal fencing gives you more height in several of these spots than a solid fence does. The fence and gate cost factors guide covers how height and style change the price.

Site: We measure the site. We walk the fence line, measure each run, and mark where it crosses the front yard, side yards, and any driveway. On corner lots we measure the street side and its distance to the sidewalk. We note grade changes that call for racked or stepped panels.

Design: We match the design to each yard. We set the height and openness for every run. A front yard section stays at 3 feet if solid or 4 feet if open. A street-side run on a corner lot can go to 6 feet open. We plan gate locations, swing direction, and clear opening width at the same time.

Plat: We mark the plat of survey. We write the fence heights, dimensions, materials, style, and placement onto your current plat. That marked plat goes in with the permit application.

Posts: We set posts after approval. Once the permit is issued, we dig post holes, set posts in concrete footings, and hold post spacing to the panel layout. Our post digging guide covers that step.

Panels: We hang panels and gates. We mount panel brackets, check alignment along the run, hang gates, and adjust hinges and latches until the gate closes clean.

For the full sequence from first call to final walkthrough, see our project process guide.

Front yards. A front yard fence tops out at 3 feet when it is less than half open, like solid fencing or masonry. It can go to 4 feet when it is more than half open. Ornamental iron counts as open. We set picket spacing and panel height to hold that line.

Narrow lots. On lots under 50 feet wide, interior side yard fences stop at 4 feet, solid or open. We measure lot width and check it against the narrow-lot side yard limit before we order panels. Historic properties can carry added design review; our historic district fence guide explains it.

Corner lots. On the street side of a corner lot, the limit is 3 feet solid or 6 feet open. A solid fence can rise past 3 feet, up to 6, only if it sits at least 5 feet back from the property line or public sidewalk. That setback moves the post line and shrinks the yard inside the fence. An open metal fence at 6 feet can often stay closer to the line, so we lay out both options and show you where each one lands.

Driveways. Where a fence meets a driveway, a sight triangle stays clear for any fence over 3 feet solid or 4 feet open. We measure 15 feet along the property line and 15 feet up the driveway, and we step the fence down or turn the corner inside that triangle.

Driveway gates in front yards. A gate across a front yard driveway is allowed when it matches the fence beside it in height, material, color, and design. We fabricate driveway gates from the same pickets, frame stock, and finish as the fence run so they read as one piece.

Chain link. Chain link is barred in front yards and along any right-of-way. We build those runs in steel or aluminum ornamental fencing.

Gate access. A fence that fully encloses a residential lot needs at least one gate to the house. We place a pedestrian gate where you actually walk, with a latch you can reach from both sides.

Pool barriers. When a fence forms part of a pool barrier, the fence has to be finished and all inspections approved before water goes in the pool. We schedule the fence ahead of the fill date and set self-closing hinges and latch alignment on the barrier gates.

Do I need a permit to replace an old fence in Aurora?

Yes. Rebuilding counts. A permit is required before a fence is reconstructed, enlarged, or structurally altered, not only for brand-new fences.

How tall can my front yard fence be?

Up to 3 feet if it is less than half open. Up to 4 feet if it is more than half open, like an ornamental metal picket fence.

Can I put a gate across my driveway in the front yard?

Yes, when the gate matches the adjacent fence in height, material, color, and design. We build the gate and the fence as a set to meet that rule.

My lot is a corner lot. Can I have a taller fence on the street side?

Yes if it is open. A solid fence over 3 feet on that side has to sit at least 5 feet back from the property line or public sidewalk.

Does a repair need a permit?

A structural alteration does. We check whether a repair touches the posts, panels, or frame before work starts. If a repair changes the height, layout, or structure, we treat it as a permit job. See our gate and fence repair page for the work we handle.

Call (630) 473-9918 or contact us about a metal fence or gate in Aurora. Tell us whether the lot is a corner lot, how wide it is, and where the driveway sits. We will measure the fence line, set heights for each yard, and mark the plat of survey for your permit application.