Fence installation in the Ranchettes
Bigger lots north of Cheyenne mean longer fence lines, horses and dogs to keep in, and snow that drifts wherever the wind drops it.
Ranchettes homeowners can call to be connected with a fence contractor that builds on acreage. The Ranchettes is an unincorporated census-designated place with 6,199 residents in 2020 spread across about 49 square miles, so a single property here can need more fence than an entire city block.
What do people fence in the Ranchettes?
- Horse pastures and paddocks with pipe, rail, or smooth or woven wire
- Dog yards and garden enclosures near the house
- Privacy fences around patios that also cut the wind
- Snow fences and windbreaks that keep drifts off driveways and out of barn doors
- Long perimeter lines along roads and neighbors
Snow fences and windbreaks
On open lots, a well-placed snow fence can decide where the drift lands. Ronald Tabler's highway Snow Fence Guide, which includes the Wyoming-style snow fence design, recommends leaving 40 to 50 percent of the fence face open, keeping a bottom gap of about 10 to 15 percent of the fence height, and expecting the drift to stretch 30 to 35 times the fence height downwind. Put a fence too close to the driveway and it can make drifting worse. The Laramie County Conservation District designs windbreaks and sells conservation seedling trees for living snow fences, with orders opening after the first of the year.
Whose rules apply?
The Ranchettes is outside Cheyenne city limits, so the city's fence code doesn't apply. Laramie County's Land Use Regulations include a fencing regulations section, and Planning and Development is the office to ask. Subdivision covenants may also set fence rules. On a shared line with a neighbor, Wyoming law lets the owner of a lawful partition fence ask the neighbor to pay half its cost.
Common questions
Does the Cheyenne fence code apply in the Ranchettes?
No. The Ranchettes is unincorporated, so Laramie County rules and any subdivision covenants apply. Ask the county's Planning and Development office about fence requirements.
Can a snow fence keep my driveway clear?
It can if it's placed far enough upwind. Tabler's snow fence guide puts the downwind drift at 30 to 35 times the fence height, so a fence too close to the driveway can drop the drift right on it.
Services in Ranchettes
- Wood privacy fencesCedar and treated-wood privacy fences built for Cheyenne wind: steel or heavy posts, gapped designs, solid gates.
- Vinyl fencesLow-upkeep vinyl privacy, picket and rail fences, with reinforced posts and rails for wind and cold.
- Chain link and metal fencesChain link, ornamental steel and aluminum, and welded wire for dogs, pools, gardens and side yards.
- Ranch, acreage and snow fencesBarbed and woven wire, pipe and rail, horse fence, wildlife-friendly lines and snow fences for acreage.
- Fence and gate repairWind-damaged sections, leaning or snapped posts, sagging gates and hail-cracked panels.
Nearby areas
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.