Vadnais Heights code states that you need to install your fence between the property lines. The City of Vadnais Heights expects the homeowner to know their property lines. While they will not send a survey crew out to you, you can easily access an existing certificate of survey at City Hall if one already exists. Once you know your property lines, you can use our convenient fence planning tool to map out where you will be placing your fence.

Your fence will need to be installed with the finished side facing away from your property. If your fence blocks access between the front and back yards, you are required to have a gate that is, at the minimum, 3-feet wide.

If you live within an area controlled by a private covenant, you will need to check with the covenant for any requirements involving property improvement before your fence installation can begin.

While neighbor notification is not a legal requirement, any time you build a fence that will come close to the property of your neighbor, you should inform them prior to your installation. You can take that opportunity to assure them that your fence will not cross their property lines. It is always best to keep lines of communication open during the installation as well, in case the neighbors have any questions or concerns.

To have a fence installed in the City of Vadnais Heights, MN, you will need to acquire a zoning permit from the city. You can apply online and upload the supporting documentation. Required documentation for the application for a permit will need to include a site plan that shows:

The dimensions of your lot
Location of the fence in relation to your property lines
Height of the fence
Type of fence
Location of all buildings and the driveway on your property

You will also need to attach a fence plan for any fence other than a chain-link fence. You will need to include the opacity of your fence by including either a sketch or a photo of the fence you are planning to install.

The fee for your zoning permit is $65. Your permit will be issued after it has been reviewed and approved. Please note that you cannot begin your fence installation until the city has issued your permit.

The Northland Fence installation team will call Gopher State One Call for the utility location. Northland will find and mark all utility lines prior to the installation of your fence. If you ever decide to install a fence on your own, don’t forget to call the utilities before you begin digging.

Fences in Vadnais Heights, MN are restricted to no more than 6 feet in height for residential districts. Fences in front yards cannot be more than 4 feet high. If a fence has more than 25% opacity, it may be installed anywhere within the boundaries of the property. Those fences with less than 25% opacity must meet setback requirements of 5 feet unless the property is on a corner lot. For a corner lot, there is a setback requirement of 10 feet for a side yard that faces the street.

If your property is on a corner lot, you may not have fences or plants higher than 30 inches within the vision area 40 feet from an intersection. If your property faces a rear lot line and the line doubles as the side lot line of

You should have your fence installed around any easements so that the city can have utility access as needed. If they need access to an easement that is blocked by a fence, the utilities will remove sections of the fence at the owner’s expense.

Electrical and barbed wire fences are illegal in the State of Minnesota.