Cheyenne Fence Guide (2026) | Wind, Rules & Snow Fences

Updated October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you build.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Front-yard height (city)	4 ft maximum in front of the house	City of Cheyenne FAQ
Back and side height (city)	6 ft maximum behind the front building line	City of Cheyenne FAQ
Permit (city)	Building permit required for fences over 6 ft	City of Cheyenne FAQ
Sidewalk setback (city)	At least 2 ft from public sidewalks	City of Cheyenne
Corner lots (city)	Since 2021, 6-ft fences behind the house front need no setback from the side-street line	City of Cheyenne
Unincorporated areas	Laramie County Land Use Regulations, fencing regulations section	Laramie County
Wind	89 mph gust in Cheyenne on Jan. 13, 2021	NWS Cheyenne (via KOWB)
Hail	More than 6 days a year with severe hail nearby; June peak	NWS Cheyenne
Building season	Average last spring freeze May 13; first fall freeze Sept. 30	NWS Cheyenne
Legal fence	W.S. 11-28-102 standards for barbed wire, board and pole fences	Wyoming LSO
Snow fence design	40-50% open; bottom gap 10-15% of height; drift 30-35x height	Tabler, SHRP Snow Fence Guide

How windy is Cheyenne, really?

Windy enough to shape how every fence is built. A 2002 Wyoming Tribune Eagle article quoting a National Weather Service meteorologist put Cheyenne's average wind speed at 12.9 mph around the clock, tying it with Casper as one of the windiest cities in the country. More recently the Weather Service recorded an 89 mph gust in Cheyenne on January 13, 2021. NWS Cheyenne runs a high wind forecasting program for southeast Wyoming, based on its own research, with hourly guidance for wind-prone spots such as Interstate 25 at Wyo Hill and Interstate 80 at Buford and Arlington.

For a fence, that means steady load punctuated by violent gusts. Solid fences catch the most. Posts fail first, usually at ground level where wood has rotted or where footings were shallow, and gates swing and rack. Steel posts, closer spacing, deeper footings, gapped designs and heavier gate hardware are the standard answers.

What are the City of Cheyenne's fence rules?

The City of Cheyenne's building and planning FAQ says fences may be built up to the property line, with a 4-foot maximum in front of the house and a 6-foot maximum behind the front building line, and must be at least 2 feet from any public sidewalk. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit. The rules are in Section 5.8.4 of the Unified Development Code, and the city provides a fencing diagram.

Amendments that took effect in March 2021 removed the street-side setback for 6-foot fences behind the front of the house on corner lots and added a section with fence material requirements. The city treats fences found in violation after a complaint as zoning violations, which may mean moving the fence. Concrete flatwork doesn't need a city permit unless it's in the public right-of-way, and work in the right-of-way needs a right-of-way permit.

What about outside city limits?

In unincorporated Laramie County, including the Ranchettes and South Greeley, the Laramie County Land Use Regulations (2022 edition, amended October 4, 2022) apply. They include a fencing regulations section, and the county's Planning and Development Office answers questions. Burns, Pine Bluffs and Albin are incorporated towns with their own rules. Subdivision covenants and HOA rules can be stricter than any of these.

What does Wyoming fence law say?

Wyoming statute W.S. 11-28-102 defines a legal fence. Per a 2022 summary by the state's Legislative Service Office, a barbed wire fence has steel, concrete or wood posts no more than 22 feet apart (33 feet with stays), set at least 20 inches deep, wood posts at least 4 inches in diameter, and three barbed wires spaced 10 to 15 inches apart or two wires with a wooden rail on top. A post-and-board fence uses three 1x8 boards no more than 10 inches apart or four 1x6 boards no more than 8 inches apart. A pole fence uses poles at least 2 inches across at the small end on posts no more than 16 feet apart. Other designs qualify if they are as strong and stock-resistant.

Under W.S. 11-28-106, the owner of a lawful fence that is or becomes a partition fence can require the adjoining owner to pay half its cost, and a subdivider must build a perimeter partition fence next to land where livestock can legally run at large.

How do I build a wildlife-friendly fence?

A Wyoming Land Trust guide, A Landowner's Guide to Fences and Wildlife (2012), recommends a top wire at 40 inches, no more than 42, at least 12 inches between the top two wires, and a smooth bottom wire at least 16 inches, preferably 18, above the ground. It suggests smooth wire top and bottom, avoiding vertical stays where possible, and posts at 16.5-foot intervals. Pronghorn would rather crawl under a fence than jump over it.

How do snow fences work?

Ronald Tabler's Snow Fence Guide (Strategic Highway Research Program, 1991), which includes the Wyoming-style snow fence design, recommends leaving 40 to 50 percent of the fence surface open, a bottom gap of about 10 to 15 percent of the fence height, and enough distance: the downwind drift grows to 30 to 35 times the fence height. One tall fence, about 8 feet as a rule of thumb, does better than several short rows. For a living snow fence, the Laramie County Conservation District designs windbreaks and sells conservation seedling trees, with orders opening after the first of the year and pickup in late spring.

How should I compare fence bids?

Post material, size, spacing and footing depth
Rail count and fasteners
How solid sections and gates are designed for wind
Board, panel or fabric specs (species, thickness, gauge, coating)
Gate count, widths and hardware
Old fence removal and haul-away
Who handles the 811 locate and any permit
Warranty on materials and workmanship

Common questions

Do I need a permit for a fence in Cheyenne?

Inside city limits, a building permit is required for fences over 6 feet. Fences must also follow the city's height and placement rules, such as 4 feet maximum in front of the house.

What fence holds up best in Cheyenne wind?

Fences that let wind through, like chain link and ornamental metal, carry the least load. For privacy, strong posts at close spacing and gapped designs like shadowbox hold up better than tight solid fences.

Do the city's fence rules apply in the Ranchettes?

No. The Ranchettes and South Greeley are unincorporated, so Laramie County's Land Use Regulations apply, along with any subdivision covenants.

Cheyenne and Laramie County fence guide (2026)