Chain link and metal fences
Metal fences let the wind through, which makes them some of the toughest fences you can put up on the high plains.
Chain link and metal fences use galvanized or coated steel, ornamental steel or aluminum to enclose yards, dogs, pools and gardens. They're for Cheyenne-area homeowners who want a durable fence that stands up to wind, or a secure enclosure where privacy isn't the point. We connect you with a fence contractor who installs metal fencing.
Why do metal fences hold up in the wind?
Air passes through them. A plain chain link fence presents very little surface to the wind compared with a solid board or vinyl fence, so its posts carry a fraction of the load. Ornamental steel and aluminum fences, with spaced pickets, are similar. That's why chain link often survives a wind event in Laramie County that flattens solid fences on the same street.
What are the options?
- Galvanized chain link. The workhorse for dogs, kids and side yards.
- Black or green vinyl-coated chain link. Blends in better and resists corrosion.
- Privacy slats. Add privacy to chain link, but they turn it into a solid surface. Posts, top rails and bracing have to be heavier, or the fence will lean.
- Ornamental steel or aluminum. A finished look for front yards, pools and patios.
- Welded wire or cattle panels on posts. For gardens, dog runs and chicken yards.
Dogs, snow and digging
For dogs, a bottom tension wire or buried wire stops pushing under. In Cheyenne, think about snow too: drifts that build against a fence can give a dog a ramp right over a 4-foot chain link. Taller fences in back (up to 6 feet behind the front building line in the city) or placing the dog run where drifts don't pile up helps.
What affects the cost?
Length and height, fabric gauge and coating, post size and spacing, privacy slats, gates (walk and drive), terrain and rock, and removing an old fence. We don't quote prices; the contractor walks the line first.
Material rules in the city
The City of Cheyenne added a section on fence material requirements to its Unified Development Code in 2021. Ask the contractor or the city's Planning and Development office whether your planned material and location are allowed before ordering.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Do privacy slats make chain link fail in the wind?
They can if the fence wasn't built for them. Slats turn chain link into a solid surface, so it needs heavier posts, a stronger top rail and good bracing.
Is chain link allowed in Cheyenne front yards?
Front-yard fences in Cheyenne are limited to 4 feet, and the city's code includes fence material requirements. Confirm with the city's Planning and Development office before building.
How do I stop my dog from climbing a drift over the fence?
Use a taller fence where allowed, keep drift-prone areas shoveled, or place the dog's area where snow doesn't pile against the fence.
Related services
More background: Cheyenne and Laramie County fence guide.
New fence, a section the wind knocked down, or a gate that won't latch?
Call and a fence contractor who works around Cheyenne will walk the line and quote the job.