Design Review for Fences, Retaining Walls, and Site Work

Landmark Preservation reviews applications for fences, retaining walls, and site work on all individual landmarks and properties within a historic district to ensure consistency with the appropriate design guidelines. Landmark Preservation does not review plantings, but does review hardscaping such as walkways, decks, patios, pergolas, trellises, lighting, and similar work.

Before you begin

Fences, retaining walls or site work in Denver historic districts or on individual landmark properties must follow these requirements:

• Front-yard fences may not be higher than 4 feet high and must be more than 50% open
• Rear-yard fences may not be higher than 6 feet high and may be solid
• Vinyl, PVC and chain-link fences are not allowed in most historic districts and individual landmarks
• Retaining walls may not remove a Denver hill or Denver roll if it is a character-defining feature of the individual landmark

For more information about appropriate materials, review the design guidelines below.

Design Guidelines

Landmark Preservation staff, the Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC), and the Lower Downtown Design Review Commission (LDDRC) use guidelines to review all fences, retaining walls, and site work. Site specific conditions determine how well the proposed fence, retaining wall, or site work fits the surrounding historic context. Most fences, retaining walls, and site work will be reviewed with Chapter 5: Guidelines for Site and Landscape Design(PDF, 1MB). Fences, retaining walls, and site work in the Lower Downtown Historic District will be reviewed with the Design Guidelines for the Public Realm section of the Design Guidelines for the Lower Downtown Historic District(PDF, 15MB). For more information, visit the Landmark Preservation design guidelines webpage.

E-permits Application

Submit your application materials via E-permits:

• Create an account or log in to an existing account
• Click the "Development Services" tab
• Click "Apply for a Permit"
• Select "Landmark Certificate of Appropriateness" and follow the instructions.

For assistance with e-permits, visit the FAQ page.

Required documents

Design review applications must adequately describe the project and provide sufficient information to evaluate the proposal. Documentation must clearly illustrate the existing conditions as well as any proposed work.

All applications for fences, retaining walls, and site work must include the following information:

• A completed Landmark design review application and checklist(PDF, 563KB) or a Landmark quick review application and checklist(PDF, 199KB), if applicable.
•  A dimensioned site plan indicating existing site work that will be retained, and any proposed site work.
• Detail elevation drawings that clearly note the height and materials for the following structure(s):
  • Fences
  • Fireplaces
  • Pergolas
  • Pools and hot tubs with built-in elements
  • Outdoor kitchens
  • Retaining walls
  • Site walls
  • Built-in seating areas
• Section drawings of retaining and site walls, and in-ground pools or hot tubs that include dimensions and material notes
• Details of construction that include:
  • All construction materials clearly labeled in plan including color, finish, and profiles
  • Material samples or photographs of new or innovative materials as requested by staff
• Current color photographs of the area of project scope and the street fronting façade(s)
  • Photos must be at least 300 dpi or at least 4” X 6”
  • Photographs must be labeled with the cardinal directions (ex. north, south, east, west). Photographs labeled front, side, and rear will not be accepted
  • Photos must be included as a page or pages within the drawing set or attached as jpeg or pdf. (Thumbnail photos, photos embedded within emails, and photos linked to a file sharing system will not be accepted)
• For a proposed rear-yard fence over 6’ but less than 8’ in height, provide contextual photographs from at least three neighboring properties. These photographs must clearly show a measuring tape placed against the fence with the full measurement visible to demonstrate that the fences taller than 6’ are common in the neighborhood.

Ready to apply?

View design review application instructions