Redding's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Redding, California, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Height Limits

Redding limits residential fences to three feet in a required front yard or within ten feet of a street-side property line, six feet elsewhere, and seven feet along an interior side or rear yard that doesn't front a public street. Nonresidential fences generally cap at six feet under Section 18.40.180.

Key details: Front-yard fence cap: 3 feet. General residential cap: 6 feet. Interior side/rear (no street frontage): up to 7 feet. Nonresidential cap: 6 feet, more via site development permit. Barbed wire setback (nonresidential): 25 feet from right-of-way.

A fence built over the height limit or inside a prohibited setback area is a zoning violation subject to Section 18.40.180 enforcement: Development Services can require the owner to remove or cut down the noncompliant portion, and unresolved violations can be pursued through the code's general nuisance-abatement and penalty provisions. Barbed wire, razor wire or electric fencing installed in a residential district without the director's security determination is also a direct violation.

Neighbor Fence Rules

Redding's Zoning Code (RMC §18.40.180) regulates fence height, location, and materials, but private boundary-fence disputes are governed by California Civil Code §841 - the Good Neighbor Fence Act of 2013. Section 841 presumes adjoining landowners share equally the responsibility and cost of a partition fence and requires 30 days' written notice with cost estimate, scope, and timeline before building or repairing. Disputes are heard in Shasta County Superior Court, not at City Hall.

Key details: State Statute: Civil Code §841 - Good Neighbor Fence Act of 2013. Cost Presumption: Equal share (rebuttable) for shared boundary fence. Notice Required: 30 days written notice with cost/scope/timeline. Spite Fences: Civ Code §841.4 - over 10 ft, malicious purpose. Adverse Possession: 5 years continuous use + tax payment (CCP §325).

Zoning violations are enforced by the City under §18.40.180. Private trespass, partition-fence cost-sharing, and spite-fence claims are heard in Shasta County Superior Court. Civil Code §841.4 spite-fence remedies include abatement and damages. Civil Code §841 cost-sharing disputes are typically heard in small claims (under $12,500) or limited civil court.

Material Restrictions

Redding bans anyone from placing, using or maintaining barbed wire on a fence that fronts a public lane, alley, avenue, street, highway, sidewalk, crosswalk, park or place, under Redding Municipal Code § 13.12.030, regardless of the property's zoning district.

Key details: Prohibited material: Barbed wire on any street-facing fence. Governing chapter: RMC Title 13, Ch. 13.12 (Miscellaneous Provisions). Applies to: Fences fronting public lane, alley, street, sidewalk, crosswalk, park or place. Coverage: The fence itself plus any attached adjunct. Origin: Carried forward from prior code § 24-10.

Placing, using or maintaining barbed wire on a fence that fronts a public lane, alley, avenue, street, highway, sidewalk, crosswalk, park or place is unlawful under § 13.12.030 no matter the zoning district; the prohibition covers any adjunct attached to the fence as well as wire strung directly into it, and code enforcement can require the barbed wire's removal.

This is one of the stricter rules in Redding's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Redding's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Redding is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Redding can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.