Fence permit checklist — American Fork, Utah
Assembled from American Fork’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.
Do you need a permit?
American Fork requires a permit for a fence.
Two official sources differ and both are preserved here. The adopted fence ordinance (Ordinance 2011-10-26, amending Development Code 17.5.115, as posted by the city) requires a submittal only above a height threshold: before commencing construction of any fence or wall over 48 inches tall, the lot owner must submit a plan showing the proposed placement and design to the Building Division. Under that ordinance a fence up to 42 inches is allowed anywhere on a residential lot, and may reach 48 inches if the portion above 42 inches is chain link or open mesh that is not more than 40 percent opaque and not sight-obscuring; fences up to six feet (a 'Tall Fence') are allowed only within the Tall Fence Enclosure Area. Walls above six feet are allowed for utility compounds, for pools and other open water impoundments (subject to receipt of a building permit) and for impound yards, and sport-court containment barriers may reach 18 feet with 10-foot setbacks, rear-yard location, open mesh no more than 15 percent opaque and Planning Commission approval. By contrast, the city's FAQ (https://www.americanfork.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=63) lists 'Fences' flatly among the exterior projects that require a permit, with no height qualifier. The ordinance is treated as primary.
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Sources
- fence — permit rules ↗verified August 2026
Other permits American Fork publishes rules for
Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.
- Deck permit checklist
- Shed permit checklist
- Water heater permit checklist
- Re-roof permit checklist
- Retaining wall permit checklist
- Electrical work permit checklist
- General building work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with American Fork before you build.