Fence Regulations in Oxnard, CA

If you live in Oxnard or are thinking about moving there, fence regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Oxnard has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of fence regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Material Restrictions

Oxnard bans barbed wire, broken glass, and any protruding sharp or dangerous object from fences and walls citywide under Section 16-312, with one narrow carve-out: barbed wire or chain-link may protect actively cultivated commercial agricultural fields and may be used in industrial zones.

Key details: Banned materials: Barbed wire, broken glass, sharp objects. Ag exception: Actively cultivated commercial fields only. Industrial exception: Barbed wire/chain-link allowed. Commercial zone limit: No chain-link as front street fence. Citation: Oxnard Code § 16-312.

Installing barbed wire, broken glass, or similar sharp materials on a fence outside the agricultural or industrial exception is a violation under Section 1-10, punishable as a general misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine, up to six months jail) or as an infraction at the city attorney's discretion ($100, $200, $500 for successive violations within a year). A noncompliant fence can also be declared a public nuisance and ordered abated under Section 16-313.

Compared to other cities, Oxnard takes a harder line on material restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Fence Permit Requirements

Oxnard requires an encroachment permit before anyone builds a fence or wall within a city right-of-way or on city-owned property. Section 16-314 caps that fence at three and a half feet, requires it to be at least half see-through, and bans fencing entirely in the parkway strip.

Key details: Where required: City right-of-way or city-owned land. Max height with permit: 3.5 feet. Openness required: 50% or more see-through. Parkway strip: No fence permitted at all. If revoked: Remove within 60 days.

Erecting a fence within the right-of-way or on city property without an encroachment permit, or maintaining one after the city revokes the license, is a violation under Section 1-10, punishable as a general misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine, up to six months jail) or as an infraction ($100, $200, $500 for repeat violations within a year). A revoked permit also carries its own consequence: removal within 60 days at the owner's expense.

Compared to other cities, Oxnard takes a harder line on fence permit requirements. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Retaining Walls

In Oxnard's front yards, Sec. 16-308(B) caps solid walls and fences at 18 inches, but expressly does not limit retaining wall height elsewhere on the lot; a front yard retaining wall can only rise 18 inches higher than the soil it holds back. Separately, any retaining wall over 3 feet needs a building permit under Sec. 14-3(C).

Key details: Front yard wall/fence cap: 18 inches (Sec. 16-308(B)). Front yard retaining wall cap: 18 inches above soil retained. Side/rear yard limit: 7 feet (Sec. 16-309). Permit-exempt height: 3 feet or under (Sec. 14-3(C)). Permit required: Over 3 feet, or any surcharge/liquid load.

Building or maintaining a retaining wall that exceeds the 18-inch front yard limit, or skipping the required permit above 3 feet, is a code violation under Sec. 1-10: a general misdemeanor with up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, or an infraction starting at $100 and rising to $500 per repeat violation within a year, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.

Height Limits

Oxnard splits fence height rules by yard location: front yards cap solid fences at 18 inches and open fences at 42 inches, while side and rear lot lines allow up to seven feet, dropping to six feet along a corner lot's street side yard, under Sections 16-308 and 16-309.

Key details: Front yard, solid fence: 18 inches maximum. Front yard, open-work: 42 inches, 50%+ open. Side/rear lot line: 7 feet maximum. Corner lot street side: 6 feet maximum. Alley trash space: 6 ft x 30 in x 4 ft required.

Building a front fence over 18 inches solid or 42 inches open-work, or a side or rear fence over seven feet (six feet on a corner lot's street side), violates Sections 16-308/16-309 and is enforceable under Section 1-10 as a general misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine, six months jail) or as an infraction ($100, $200, $500 for successive violations within a year). Section 16-313 also declares an improperly built or maintained fence a public nuisance subject to abatement.

Neighbor Fence Rules

Oxnard follows California's Good Neighbor Fence law (Civil Code §841), which presumes equal cost sharing for boundary fences. The finished side of a fence should face outward toward the neighbor.

Key details: Cost Sharing: Equal sharing per CA Civil Code §841. Notice: Written notice to neighbor before building. Finished Side: Should face outward to neighbor. Disputes: Small claims court for cost disputes.

Fence disputes are generally civil matters. If a fence violates city height or setback requirements, code compliance may issue a notice of violation.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Oxnard gives residents more flexibility on neighbor fence rules.

The Bottom Line

Oxnard is tougher than many cities when it comes to fence regulations. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Oxnard, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Oxnard's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.