Property owners are responsible for knowing their property lines. All fences must be built within property lines, unless an agreement is signed with neighboring properties. Fences cannot hinder traffic visibility, obstruct sidewalks, or block easements such as utility boxes or electrical poles.

You are not legally required to notify your neighbors of any new fence construction, so long as the construction doesn’t require entering their property. However, it is still the polite thing to do to give your neighbors a heads up. This is especially true if they have kids or pets. No one likes being surprised by new construction outside their window.

All fences in Golden Valley require a zoning permit. Fences that exceed 6 feet in height require an additional building permit. The zoning permit application is only $25.

The city will inspect any new fence after it is constructed. They will primarily be looking at the quality of fence posts to ensure they can withstand weather conditions. However, inspectors may look at other factors to ensure the new fence is fully compliant with all codes of the city of Golden Valley.

For projects completed by Northland Fence, one of our team members will contact Gopher State One to identify all utility lines. Identifying utility lines is critical to everyone’s safety, and we take it very seriously.

Golden Valley has fluctuating height requirements based on its directional location in relation to the house. Front yard fences max out at 4 feet, fences along the side and rear yards max out at 6 feet. Height limitations may be exceeded if a building permit is obtained. Height is rarely a concern for most homeowners who want a chain-link fence.

Fences are not allowed to block the visibility of traffic. This is sometimes an issue for corner lots. Additionally, Golden Valley requires a “corner of visibility” requirement on corner lots. This means that no fence can be built within 45 feet of an intersection point. For most corner lots, this rules out the possibility of a front yard fence. Feel free to contact us if you have questions about Golden Valley’s “corner of visibility” rules.

Fences may not block or severely restrict access to easements. Examples of easements include electrical boxes, fire hydrants, utility poles, public sidewalks, alleyways, and other necessary infrastructure features.