A 1960s planned suburb
Northglenn was developed in the 1960s as a planned community, and its housing shows it. The American Community Survey (2020–2024) counts about 38,000 people and 14,900 housing units, and about 5,670 of those homes were built in the 1960s. That one decade is more than a third of the city.
Northglenn homes by decade built
American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates
Built before 1990 Newer
Those houses are now 55 to 65 years old, and many of their fences are on their second or third replacement. Metal is a common choice the third time around.
Northglenn's fence rules
Northglenn's fence regulations come from Section 11-4-7(I) of its Unified Development Ordinance. The rules that matter most for a metal fence:
- A building permit is required for any fence over 30 inches.
- Front yard fences can be up to 42 inches and must be at least 50 percent transparent in most zones, meaning the gaps are at least as wide as the solid parts.
- Side and rear fences can be up to 8 feet.
- On corner lots, fences over 30 inches must stay out of the vision triangle.
- Chain link is not allowed facing arterial roads, and corrugated metal is prohibited.
The 50 percent rule rules out most solid front fences. An open steel or aluminum picket fence meets it easily, which is why metal is so common in Northglenn front yards.
Open pickets meet the 50 percent ruleArterial road frontage
Along certain arterial roads, Northglenn requires a solid privacy fence at least 6 feet tall where a city fence does not already exist. The city's list includes 120th Avenue, 104th Avenue, Huron Street, Washington Street and part of 112th Avenue. For a lot backing onto one of those roads, the arterial side may need a solid fence while the rest of the yard can be open metal. We design that transition so the two fences meet cleanly.
Water meters and neighbors
Northglenn notes that fences cannot block access to the water meter, usually near the front sidewalk, and recommends working with your neighbor on shared property-line fences. A survey to mark property lines is worth it if the old fence position is in doubt.
Northglenn borders Westminster to the east across I-25. See our pricing page for published ranges.
