As the property owner, you are responsible for defining your property line. You can obtain records from the city or pay for a private surveyor. Your fence should be assembled fully within your property. Your fence cannot block traffic, public rights of way, or utility easements. Residents on the Mississippi River have additional requirements and should contact the Planning Division. If you live within a Homeowner’s Association, you may also have additional requirements.

Although you have no legal obligation to notify neighbors of fence construction if the fence is fully within your property, open communication with neighbors is key for maintaining healthy relationships and avoiding potential disputes.

Brooklyn Park requires a building permit for fence installations over seven (7) feet high. When a permit is required, you must submit an application with a detailed plan. The city will perform a plan review before issuing a permit. Once your permit is approved, installation can begin. Obtaining the proper permits before any home improvement project is important so that you do not incur citations or exceed your vinyl fence cost budget due to unnecessary fines. You should always contact the Brooklyn Park Building Inspections department if you have questions.

Fence installers must call Gopher State One Call before installing fencing in Minnesota. Northland Fence will always find and mark all utility lines before beginning installation. You should never install fencing without marking utility lines.

In Brooklyn Park, your fence can be up to six (6) feet high in the back and side yards. Your side yard is considered to end at the line made by the front of your home. If a fence extends past this point, it may only be four (4) feet at its maximum height. However, it is possible to receive an exception, but you must apply for a special variance.

Generally, it is not possible to build a fence on an easement. If you do build on an easement and the intended users damage it, they are not responsible for repairs. However, you may place three walls around the easement so that it still remains accessible as needed.