Wood privacy fences
The classic backyard fence, built for a place where the wind tests every post and every gate hinge.
A wood privacy fence closes in a backyard with cedar or treated boards on posts and rails, giving you privacy, a place for dogs and kids, and some shelter from the wind. This page is for homeowners in Cheyenne and Laramie County planning a new privacy fence or replacing a tired one. We connect you with a fence contractor who builds for the local wind.
Why does wind change how a privacy fence is built here?
A solid 6-foot fence is a sail. Cheyenne's wind is relentless: a National Weather Service meteorologist told the local paper that winds average 12.9 mph around the clock, and the Weather Service recorded an 89 mph gust in the city on January 13, 2021. NWS Cheyenne even runs a dedicated high wind forecasting program for southeast Wyoming. A fence that isn't built for that load leans, racks and drops boards. The fixes are well known:
- Stronger posts. Galvanized steel posts, or heavy wood posts set deeper in concrete, at closer spacing.
- Designs that breathe. Shadowbox and board-on-board fences with small gaps let some air pass and cut the load while still blocking the view.
- Heavier rails and fasteners. Three rails on a 6-foot fence, and screws or ring-shank nails instead of smooth nails.
- Gates built as gates. A steel gate frame or anti-sag kit, heavy hinges, and a drop rod or latch that holds against gusts.
Cedar or treated pine?
Cedar is lighter, more stable and naturally rot resistant, and weathers to silver if left alone. Treated pine costs less up front and is stronger in posts and rails, but boards can twist and check as they dry in Cheyenne's thin, dry air. Many fences use treated or steel posts with cedar boards. Whatever you choose, staining every few years slows the drying and cracking that high-altitude sun causes.
What height can I build in Cheyenne?
Inside city limits, the City of Cheyenne allows fences up to 4 feet in front of the house and up to 6 feet behind the front building line, at least 2 feet from public sidewalks. Fences over 6 feet need a building permit. Outside the city, Laramie County's rules apply. HOAs may be stricter.
What affects the cost?
Length and height, board type, post type (steel or wood) and spacing, style (straight board, shadowbox, board-on-board, cap and trim), number and width of gates, removing an old fence, slope and rocky ground, and access. We don't quote prices; the contractor walks the line first.
Repair or replace?
If most posts are sound and only boards or a section are damaged, repair is often worth it. If posts are rotting at ground level along the whole line, or the fence leans in several places, replacing it with a wind-ready design usually makes more sense. See fence repair.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
What's the best privacy fence for Cheyenne wind?
A fence with strong posts at close spacing and a design that lets a little air through, such as shadowbox or board-on-board with gaps, holds up better than a tight solid fence on light posts.
Do I need a permit for a 6-foot fence in Cheyenne?
Not for the height alone. The City of Cheyenne requires a building permit for fences over 6 feet. Six feet is the limit behind the front building line and 4 feet in front.
Should I use steel posts with a wood fence?
Many fences in windy areas do. Galvanized steel posts resist rot and bending and can be hidden behind the boards. Ask the contractor to compare options for your fence line.
Related services
More background: Cheyenne and Laramie County fence guide.
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.