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Do You Need a Permit for Landscaping Work in Denver? A Homeowner’s Guide

If you are planning a landscaping project in Denver, here is the short answer. The three most common jobs that DO need a permit from the City and County of Denver are: (1) building a retaining wall taller than 12 inches, which needs a zoning permit, (2) installing a fence over 4 feet tall, which also needs a zoning permit, and (3) removing or planting a street tree in the public right-of-way, which needs a free permit from the Office of the City Forester. Plenty of everyday work, like planting beds, laying sod, or mulching, needs no permit at all. Here is the full breakdown from Denver Pro Landscape, with every rule linked to the city’s own pages.

Retaining Walls

Denver treats walls differently than fences. Per the city’s fences and walls page, all walls, including retaining walls, over 12 inches high need a zoning permit. Masonry walls and retaining walls over 6 feet in height require commercial engineering plan review and a building permit. Separately, the city’s Permitting Checklist for New Homes and Additions requires engineered structural calculations for retaining walls that retain more than 24 inches of soil or are greater than 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing. Practical takeaway: almost any real retaining wall in Denver involves a permit, and taller walls need an engineer.

Fences

Per the city’s Fences and Walls page, all fences over 4 feet tall need a zoning permit. Height limits in most residential areas are 4 feet in the front yard and 6 feet in the backyard. Post-hole dug fences need a building permit only if taller than 8 feet, while other fence types over 4 feet need one. All fences and walls must sit at least 6 inches back from the public sidewalk. In historic districts and on landmark properties, permits are required regardless of height.

Patios, Decks, and Hardscape

Per the city’s Residential Decks, Porches, Patios, Pergolas, and Carports page, uncovered decks 12 inches or less off the ground do not require a permit. Decks higher than 12 inches need a zoning permit, and decks 30 inches or higher also need a building permit. All covered patios, porches, pergolas, and carports require both a zoning and a building permit. Simple at-grade paver patios and walkways generally fall below these thresholds, but some projects may also trigger sewer use and drainage permit (SUDP) review.

Irrigation Systems

Denver’s Quick Permits page lists backflow preventers and water service work among the plumbing scopes that can be permitted through the quick permit process for single-family and duplex homes. A new sprinkler system connects to your potable water supply, so the backflow prevention side of the job is permitted plumbing work. The city page does not publish a single stated threshold for full irrigation installs, so for your specific system, check with Denver Development Services before trenching. Always call Colorado 811 for utility locates first.

Tree Removal and Forestry

Per the Street Tree Permits page from the Office of the City Forester, permits are required before tree removal, tree planting, tree injection, or attaching material to any public or protected tree. The permit is free, review can take up to 5 business days, and if you hire a licensed tree contractor, the contractor is responsible for pulling the permit. The city’s permitting checklist notes the Forester also protects trees in the primary and side street setbacks in residential zone districts, not just the strip by the curb.

Drainage and Grading

Per the city’s Sewer Use and Drainage Permits page, development projects submitted through e-permits are reviewed by the SUDP team for sanitary, storm (grading), floodplain, and groundwater compliance. The permitting checklist adds that changing the grade in a primary street or side interior setback can require a zoning grade change exception, and sloped excavations more than 4 feet deep require excavation plans.

This is general guidance, not legal advice – confirm with Denver Development Services before starting work.

Last Updated: July 2026

FAQ

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my own backyard in Denver?

A permit is required for removing any public or protected tree, which includes street trees in the right-of-way and trees in certain street-facing setbacks. For a tree fully inside your private yard, confirm its status with the Office of the City Forester before cutting.

How tall can my fence be without a permit?

Fences 4 feet and under generally do not need a zoning permit in Denver, unless you are in a historic district or on a landmark property, where every fence needs a permit.

Does a paver patio need a permit?

An uncovered patio or deck 12 inches or less off the ground does not require a permit. Add a roof or pergola, and both zoning and building permits are required.

Method and Sources

Rules above were verified in July 2026 directly on the City and County of Denver portal (denvergov.org). Pages cited:

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