Home Improvement Contractors Near You in Loveland
Loveland Exterior Remodeling Under 2026's New Rules
Loveland rewrote a lot of its rulebook this year. Updated fence standards took effect March 17, 2026, and the city's 2024 building code amendments took effect July 1, 2026. If a neighbor built a fence or deck a few years ago, their project isn't a reliable guide to what yours can be.
Country Construction LLC has worked across the foothills and plains of Northern Colorado since 2007, on windows, doors, fencing, siding, decks and exterior trim. Here's what's different about remodeling in Loveland.
Loveland Fence Rules, Updated for 2026
Front setbacks have the tightest limits. A solid fence there tops out at 3 feet. An open-style fence, no more than one part solid to four parts open, can reach 4 feet. Once you're even with or behind the front of the house, and in side or rear yards, the limit is 6 feet 3 inches. Chain-link and woven wire are out in front yards unless the city approves an exception for public safety, and any fence facing a street has to show its finished side to the street.
Fences next to parks, open space or common areas are capped at 4 feet and kept mostly open, unless the city signs off on something different for safety or buffering. Anything over 4 feet beside a sidewalk sits at least 2 feet back. You can't build up the grade to gain height. A concrete fence always needs a building permit, because the city treats any concrete fence as structural.
Planning a wood privacy fence for a backyard that backs onto open space? Check that 4-foot rule first.
Decks, Windows and Siding: What Needs a Permit
Most decks need a permit in Loveland. The city's permit FAQ carves out small, low, freestanding decks: under 200 square feet, under 30 inches above grade, not attached to the house and not serving the main entry. Deck piers go at least 30 inches deep, the city's frost depth. The city's current plan review estimate is 20 to 30 working days per round.
The same FAQ says replacing windows doesn't need a permit as long as the rough openings don't change. A new basement egress window is a different job: it needs a Colorado-licensed structural engineer's design and a permit. Re-siding doesn't need a permit, but the city does call for corrosion-resistant flashing lapped shingle-style so water can't get behind it. That small detail keeps water out of the wall behind your siding installation.
Building Near the Big Thompson
In September 2013, floodwater covered more than three square miles of Loveland. FEMA's flood study lists about 13 earlier Big Thompson floods in Loveland, from 1864 to 1976. Any development in the city's floodplain overlay zone needs a floodplain development permit, and the floodway itself doesn't allow structures, fill or stored materials. That can rule out a new deck or shed on the part of a lot that sits in the floodway.
The city has posted an updated FEMA flood study dated November 27, 2026, so check your address again even if you looked it up a few years ago. The city points homeowners to coloradohazardmapping.com for a property flood report.
West-Side Wind and Historic Homes
The city's posted design criteria list a 130 mph wind speed. The Front Range gust map the city links for that number puts the 140 mph contour near County Road 21 in Loveland, with higher speeds farther west toward the foothills. If your lot is on the west side, fence posts, deck framing and siding fasteners all deserve more attention.
Historic landmarks have their own rule. Any exterior change to a property on the Loveland Historic Register needs Landmark Alteration Approval before the city will issue a permit, and that includes work that affects doors or windows. Simple repairs, routine maintenance and low fences fall outside the commission's review. And landmark owners with an approved alteration certificate can get their building permit fees waived for exterior restoration.
Why Loveland Homeowners Choose Country Construction
Since 2007, we've provided quality craftsmanship to residents and property managers across Northern Colorado. We're a licensed and insured company, we're LEED- and EPA-certified, and we remain compliant with all building codes and practices. Owner James Westers has been recognized as a Gold Star Installer for Lowe's of Fort Collins. We cover windows, doors, fencing, siding, decking and exterior trim, so one call covers a project that touches more than one part of the house.
Get a Free Quote in Loveland
From a deck repair on a west-side lot to a new entry door installation, tell us what you have in mind and we'll put together a personalized quote. Reach out for a free quote and let's plan your Loveland home improvement project.
Nearby Areas We Serve
We also build and repair decks, fences, windows, doors and siding in Fort Collins, Windsor, Laporte, Timnath and Johnstown. See every town we cover on our Northern Colorado service areas page.