Layout and utility locate
We mark the fence line with stakes and a string line, confirm property boundaries, and contact Colorado 811 for utility locates before any digging starts. A dog run is measured to the dog, not the catalog.
Denver Fence Contractor
17 Denver neighborhoods served
Open Daily
Mon–Sun 7:00 AM–8:00 PM
Call to Book
Call (720) 697-2456
Permit Guidance
Zoning rules checked per job
What our dog fence installation includes
Every dog fence we build comes with the same core scope: layout, post setting, the fence itself, gates, and cleanup. Here is what is covered, and what we will flag before we start if your dog or your lot needs something different.
Posts set in concrete
Dog-fence posts go deep in concrete — frost depth in the Denver metro is commonly cited at about 36 inches — because a dog pushes, jumps, and digs at a fence every day, and a shallow post leans fast.
Solid or chain link, chosen for the dog
A solid privacy fence blocks the view and cuts the barking; a chain link run is cheaper and tougher, and a bottom tension wire keeps the fabric from bowing where the dog pushes. We talk through which suits the dog before ordering.
Self-closing gates
Dog gates get self-closing hinges and a latch that meets the post. A gate left open by a visitor is a dog on the street, so the gate has to close itself.
Permit and HOA guidance
We check the Denver rules for your address — 4 feet in front of the primary facade, 6 feet behind it, zoning permit over 4 feet — and help with HOA submittals. A dog run in a historic district needs the same review as the fence around it.
Demo, haul-away, and cleanup
The old dog fence, concrete footings, and scrap all go in the trailer. We rake the work area, sweep the driveway, and walk the line with you before we go.
Dog fence installation Denver CO: what the job actually involves
Dog fence installation Denver CO is the process of building a physical fence that keeps a dog in: a solid privacy run that blocks the view, a chain link dog run with a bottom tension wire, or a fenced yard with a self-closing gate. The work is in the details a dog tests every day — the base of the fence where a dog digs, the gate that a visitor leaves open, and the height that a large dog can clear.
Most Denver homeowners want a dog fence for one reason: a yard the dog can use without a leash. The choice that matters is solid against open. A solid fence blocks the view, so the dog barks less at the street — but it catches the wind, and it needs deeper posts. A chain link run is cheaper and tougher, but the dog can see the street and will bark at it. We talk through the trade-off before the build, not after the first week of barking.
How our dog fence installation process works
Every job follows the same four steps, whether it is a small dog run in Berkeley or a full fenced yard in University Hills. You will know what happens each day.
01
Call
Call (720) 697-2456, Monday through Sunday, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. We will talk through the dog fence, the yard, and the lot, and set a time to measure.
02
Measure & plan
We measure the line, check the ground and the slope, talk through the dog's size and habits, and confirm the height, permit, and HOA rules for your address.
03
Build
Posts go in concrete and cure, the fence goes up tight and plumb, and the gates are self-closing, hung, and tested. We keep the site tidy as we go.
04
Walk-through
Before we leave, we walk the finished dog fence with you, check every gate and latch, and clear the site.
Tools and methods we use on every dog fence
Tools & Equipment
Post hole digger and auger
Used to bore clean holes deep enough to clear the frost line. A dog pushes at a fence every day, so the footing has to be right.
String line and level
The string line keeps the fence straight over 100 feet, and the level keeps every post plumb. A dog run is a small space — a crooked post shows.
Circular saw and nail gun
The circular saw cuts pickets and rails to length, and the nail gun fastens them consistent with the fence.
Tamper and wheelbarrow
We tamp the soil around each footing so the dog fence post does not shift, and the wheelbarrow moves concrete mix to the hole.
Fence pliers and wire tensioner
Fence pliers twist ties and cut fabric, and the wire tensioner gets a chain link run tight so a dog cannot push the fabric out at the base.
Self-closing hinges and latches
Used on every dog gate. A gate that closes itself is a gate that does not leave a dog on the street because a visitor forgot to shut it.
Methods & Standards
Posts set below Denver frost depth
The Denver metro frost depth is commonly cited at about 36 inches, and the exact code figure for fence posts is not settled in the sources we reviewed. We treat 36 inches as the floor, never the target, and set dog fence posts in concrete.
Bottom tension wire on chain link runs
A bottom tension wire keeps the fabric from bowing out where a dog pushes against it. Without it, a determined dog pushes the fabric out at the base within a season.
Self-closing gates, every time
Every dog gate gets self-closing hinges and a latch that meets the post. A gate left open by a visitor is a dog on the street.
Solid where the dog can see the street
A dog that can see the street barks at the street. A solid privacy run on the street side cuts the barking, while chain link can be used on the sides the dog cannot see from.
When Denver homeowners call us for a dog fence
01
A new puppy needs a safe yard
What we do:We measure the yard, talk through a 6-foot solid privacy fence with a self-closing gate, check the permit rules for the address, and build it. The pickets are set tight so a puppy cannot squeeze through.
→ A yard the puppy can use without a leash, with a gate that closes itself.
02
A large dog jumps a low fence
What we do:We measure the yard, talk through a 6-foot solid fence with no climbable horizontal rails on the dog's side, and build it. The height and the smooth face are what keep a large dog in — not the material alone.
→ A yard the dog stays in, without a fence the dog can climb.
03
A dog digs under the fence
What we do:We check the base of the fence, talk through a buried barrier or a bottom tension wire, and fix the dig-outs. A dog that digs needs a fence that goes down as well as up.
→ A yard the dog cannot dig out of, with the base secured along the whole run.
04
A side yard needs a dog run, not a full fence
What we do:We measure the side run, talk through a chain link dog run with a walk gate and a bottom tension wire, and build it. The run gives the dog space without fencing the whole lot.
→ A dog run that keeps the dog in and the rest of the yard open.
How dog fence installation runs in Denver
Denver's dog fences fail in three places: the base, where a dog digs; the gate, which a visitor leaves open; and the height, which a large dog clears. The ground makes the base harder — bentonite clay holds water against the post, and freeze-thaw ground heaves a shallow footing. The fix is in the build: deep posts, a secured base, a self-closing gate, and a height chosen for the dog, not the catalog. And the fence is physical — no invisible, electric, wireless, or GPS system, which is a separate specialist trade.
Neighborhoods We Serve
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Craftsman bungalows and Denver Squares from 1893 to 1939, with intense scrape-and-rebuild. New two-storey builds overlook original bungalow yards, which drives rear privacy work. On these streets, a physical dog fence is the usual call.
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Brick ranches from the 1950s to early 1970s on generous lots, with the High Line Canal running through the middle. Large corner lots are common, and I-25 bounds the east edge. A physical dog fence is the usual call on these streets.
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About 4,000 homes built between 1954 and 1957, including 130 to 170 Cliff May prefab ranches — the largest Cliff May tract outside California. Flat, wide lots with detached garages and private courtyards. These streets usually call for a physical dog fence.
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Modest 1950s brick ranches subdivided in the early 1950s. Several homes back directly onto Ash Grove Park or Cook Park with private gates — a park-gate fence is a documented feature here. On these streets, a physical dog fence is the usual call.
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Post-war brick ranches from the 1940s and 1950s, mostly with fenced back yards already. Heavy clay holds water against posts, and detached garages and alleys shape most rear fence lines. A physical dog fence is the usual call on these streets.
Local Conditions We Plan For
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Freeze-thaw cycles that heave shallow posts
Denver's freeze-thaw ground lifts shallow posts within a winter or two. Frost depth is commonly cited at about 36 inches in the metro, and posts set shallower than that are the usual cause of a leaning fence. For a dog fence, that means posts set deep in concrete — shallow footings are the first thing we check.
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Bentonite clay that holds water against posts
Expansive bentonite clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and it drains slowly, so post bases stay wet. Pressure-treated posts and a rot board at the base keep pickets out of the wettest soil. On a dog fence job, the post bases get pressure-treated stock and a rot board to keep the wood out of the wet soil.
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Chinook wind that loads solid fences
Chinook gusts on the Front Range can top 80 mph on the I-25 corridor. A solid 6-foot privacy run catches the full wind load, which is why posts, footings, and rail fastening matter more than the pickets. A dog fence has to be planned for Chinook gusts — posts, footings, and fastening carry the load.
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Denver permit and sight-triangle rules
Denver caps fences at 4 feet in front of the primary street-facing facade and 6 feet behind it, and any fence over 4 feet needs a zoning permit. Corner lots have sight-triangle limits near intersections, and fences sit at least 6 inches back from the public sidewalk. For a dog fence, we check the height and the sight triangle for your address before we quote.
What a typical dog fence job looks like in Denver
Dog fence problems we fix for Denver homeowners
Most dog-fence calls start with a problem, not a wish list. Here are the four we hear most often, and how we handle each one.
Problem
A dog that digs under the fence
A dog that digs needs a fence that goes down as well as up. Filling the hole every week is not a fix — the dog will dig another one next to it.
Our Fix
We secure the base along the run — a buried barrier where the dog digs, a bottom tension wire on chain link — and check the whole fence, not just the hole you found.
Problem
A gate left open by a visitor
A gate that does not close itself is a gate that gets left open, and a dog on the street is the result. The fix is not a reminder — it is a self-closing hinge.
Our Fix
We fit self-closing hinges and a latch that meets the post, and test the gate until it closes itself every time.
Problem
A large dog that jumps or climbs the fence
A large dog clears a low fence, and climbs a fence with horizontal rails on the dog's side. The fix is height and a smooth face, not a taller version of the same fence.
Our Fix
We talk through a 6-foot solid fence with no climbable rails on the dog's side, and we keep furniture and planters away from the fence so nothing becomes a step.
Problem
A chain link run the dog pushes out at the base
A chain link run without a bottom tension wire bows out where a dog pushes against it, and a determined dog pushes through it.
Our Fix
We fit a bottom tension wire and re-tension the fabric, and check the posts for lean. A tight run with a tensioned base holds a dog; a slack one does not.
Why Denver homeowners choose a physical dog fence
A physical fence works when the power is out, when the collar is off, and when the dog is determined. Here is what you actually get when we build yours.
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Keeps the dog in, every time
A physical fence does not depend on a battery, a collar, or a signal. It keeps the dog in when the power is out and when the dog is determined — and it keeps other dogs out.
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Cuts the barking
A solid fence blocks the view, so the dog barks less at the street. A dog that cannot see the street is a quieter dog, and a quieter dog is a better neighbor.
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A yard the dog can actually use
A fenced yard is a yard the dog can run in, dig in, and lie in without a leash. A dog run is a space, not a tether.
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What a dog fence costs in the Denver market
Third-party market guides published in October and November 2026 put galvanized chain-link fencing — the most common dog-run material — at $15 to $35 per linear foot installed. A solid privacy run follows the cedar range of $23 to $56 per foot. Sources: NumeralQ, 26 Oct 2026; Great Neighbor Fence, 5 Nov 2026. Those are market ranges, not Payless Fence Company prices. Call (720) 697-2456 with your fence length and material and we will talk through a quote for your yard.
Denver fence rules to know before you build
Denver Fence Rules to Know
- 4 feet in front, 6 feet behind — the dog run belongs at the rear — Denver caps a fence at 4 feet in front of the primary street-facing facade and 6 feet behind it. A dog fence is usually a rear-yard fence, and a 6-foot run almost always needs a zoning permit.
- Zoning permit over 4 feet — Denver requires a zoning permit for any fence over 4 feet tall, and a 6-foot dog run almost always needs one; over-height requests go through the Zoning Code's over-height process.
- Colorado 811 before digging — We contact Colorado 811 for utility locates before any post hole is dug; never dig blind in a Denver yard — a dog run means a long line of holes.
- HOA first, city second — In HOA neighborhoods, the association approves the fence before the city permit is filed; neither approval substitutes for the other — and a dog run gets the same two reviews.
Rated on Google
Google ★★★★★4.9 out of 5
Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 27 Google reviews. Read the reviews on our Google Business Profile, or call (720) 697-2456 to talk about your fence.
Local experience with dog fences in Denver
Dog fences in Denver have to survive a dog that pushes, jumps, and digs — and Denver's freeze-thaw ground, which heaves a shallow post. We build physical fences for those conditions: deep concrete footings, a secured base, self-closing gates, and a height chosen for the dog. No invisible, electric, or GPS fences — that is a separate specialist trade.
- Posts set deep for Denver's bentonite clay and freeze-thaw ground
- Base secured against digging along the whole run
- Self-closing gates on every dog fence
- Height and face chosen for the dog, not the catalog
- Old fence, footings, and scrap hauled away
Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google
Payless Fence Company is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 27 Google reviews. We publish the aggregate here and leave the individual review text on Google. Call (720) 697-2456 to talk about your dog fence.
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5
Based on 27 Google reviews for Payless Fence Company. We do not publish customer quotes on this page; read the reviews on Google, then call us to talk about your fence.
Call (720) 697-2456Frequently asked questions about dog fence installation in Denver
The questions we hear most often about dog fence, answered for local homeowners and property managers.
How much does a dog fence cost in Denver?
Third-party market guides published in October and November 2026 put galvanized chain-link fencing — the most common dog-run material — at $15 to $35 per linear foot installed. A solid privacy run follows the cedar range of $23 to $56 per foot. Sources: NumeralQ, 26 Oct 2026; Great Neighbor Fence, 5 Nov 2026. Those are market ranges, not Payless Fence Company prices. Call (720) 697-2456 with your fence length and material and we will talk through a quote for your yard.
Do you install invisible or electric dog fences?
No. We install physical fences and dog runs only — solid privacy, chain link, and fenced yards. Invisible, electric, wireless, and GPS dog fences are a separate specialist trade, and we do not offer them. A physical fence works when the power is out, when the collar is off, and when the dog is determined.
What fence height keeps a large dog in?
A 6-foot solid fence with no climbable horizontal rails on the dog's side is the usual choice for a large dog, and the base has to be secured against digging. Height alone is not enough — a large dog climbs a fence with rails on its side, and jumps a fence with furniture or planters next to it. Call (720) 697-2456 and we will talk through your dog and your lot.
Do I need a permit for a dog fence in Denver?
The zoning permit rule in Denver covers any fence over 4 feet tall, and any fence at any height on a landmark property, in a historic district, or along a designated parkway. A fence 4 feet and under generally needs no permit, and a like-for-like replacement of a permitted fence is generally exempt when nothing changes in location, footprint, or height. A 6-foot dog run at the rear almost always needs one. Check the rules for your address before you build — historic-district and parkway rules are block-specific — and call (720) 697-2456 and we can walk through what your lot needs.
Other fence services we handle in Denver
Chain Link Fence Installation
Galvanized and vinyl-coated chain link for yards, dog runs, and side lots. Pairs with a dog run on the same lot.
View Chain Link Fence InstallationPrivacy Fence Installation
Full-height 6-foot privacy runs for backyards, alleys, and patios. Often built on the same lot as a dog fence.
View Privacy Fence InstallationWood Fence Installation
Cedar and pressure-treated pine fences built for Denver clay, frost, and hail. A common companion to a physical dog fence.
View Wood Fence InstallationGate Installation
Manual walk and driveway gates, braced and hung to swing clean. Pairs with a dog run on the same lot.
View Gate InstallationFence Repair
Post, rail, picket, and gate repairs, including storm and freeze-thaw damage. Often built on the same lot as a dog fence.
View Fence RepairVinyl Fence Installation
Low-upkeep vinyl privacy and picket fences that hold up to Front Range sun. A common companion to a physical dog fence.
View Vinyl Fence InstallationTalk to our fence crew
Call (720) 697-2456 to talk about a dog fence. We answer Monday through Sunday, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Have the dog's size and habits, your yard size, and your neighborhood ready, and we can talk through the next steps on the call.
Payless Fence Company
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Phone
(720) 697-2456 -
Address
Payless Fence Company LLC, Denver, CO 80201, US
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Hours
Mon–Sun 7:00 AM–8:00 PM