Fence Regulations in Redwood City, CA

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

Retaining Walls

Redwood City requires a grading permit, plus a separate plan-review and permit fee, for any retaining wall that meets the city's "Engineered Grading" threshold: fill over three feet, a cut slope over five feet, or fill that supports a structure, under Building Code Appendix J as amended by Sections 9.53-9.56.

Key details: Engineered Grading trigger: Fill >3 ft, cut slope >5 ft, or supports a structure. Permit exemption threshold: <50 cubic yards, isolated area only. Review authority: City Engineer, not Building Official. Fee basis: Actual cost, fully burdened hourly rate. No-permit penalty: 2x permit fee under Sec. 9.43.

Building without the required grading or retaining wall permit exposes the property owner to enforcement under Chapter 9's violation provisions: Section 9.43 makes work commenced without a permit subject to a fine equal to double the required permit fee, on top of the permit fee itself, and Section 9.3 lets the Building Official or an authorized representative cite the ongoing work as a code violation.

Fence Permit Requirements

Redwood City does not require a permit for a fence built within the standard height limits set by Zoning Code § 36.3, but an Architectural Permit is mandatory to build an interior side or rear yard fence above seven feet, up to the ten-foot ceiling, and that permit is unavailable in the Professional Office or any Residential district.

Key details: By-right fence heights: No permit needed. Above 7 ft side/rear yard: Architectural Permit required. Maximum with permit: 10 ft. Permit unavailable in: Professional Office, Residential districts. Right-of-way fences: Never permitted.

Building a side or rear yard fence above seven feet without the required Architectural Permit, or above ten feet under any circumstance, is enforceable as a Zoning Ordinance violation: the Zoning Administrator can treat it as a public nuisance under § 50.2 and issue an infraction citation under § 50.5, carrying fines up to $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a repeat within a year, and up to $500 after that, with each day of the violation counted separately under § 50.6.

Height Limits

Redwood City caps fence height by yard: three feet for solid fences in the required front yard (five feet if combined solid/open), seven feet in interior side and rear yards, and six feet along the street side of corner lots. Height is measured from the lowest adjoining grade, and solid fences or hedges over three feet cannot block the 15-foot vision triangle at driveways and corners.

Key details: Front yard solid fence: 3 ft max. Front yard solid/open combo: 5 ft max. Side/rear yard: 7 ft (10 ft with permit). Corner street-side yard: 6 ft, 18-inch sidewalk setback. Vision triangle: 15 ft, 3 ft height cap.

An oversized or misplaced fence is a Zoning Ordinance violation the Zoning Administrator can cite under Article 50 as a public nuisance and an infraction, with fines up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a repeat within a year, and up to $500 after that; each day the fence remains noncompliant is a separate offense (§§ 50.2, 50.5-50.6).

Material Restrictions

Redwood City bans electrically charged fences, barbed wire, razor wire and other wire fencing in every residential zoning district, and separately bans chain link, barbed/razor wire and corrugated metal fencing in its Mixed Use Corridor, Neighborhood and Transitional districts. Chain link is also barred above three feet in residential front yards and street-side corner yards.

Key details: Residential zones: Barbed/razor wire, electric fencing banned. Mixed Use zones (MUC/MUN/MUT): Chain link, corrugated metal, wire banned. Chain link elsewhere: Capped at 3 ft in front/street-side yards. Grandfathering: None stated in § 36.3. Enforcement: Zoning Administrator, Article 50 infraction.

A prohibited fence material is enforceable the same way as any other Zoning Ordinance violation: the Zoning Administrator can declare it a public nuisance under § 50.2 and cite it as an infraction under § 50.5, with fines up to $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a repeat within a year, and up to $500 for each violation after that, with every day of noncompliance a separate offense under § 50.6.

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

Neighbor Fence Rules

Fence cost-sharing between neighbors in Redwood City is governed by California Civil Code §841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act). Disputes are civil matters; the city does not mediate fence disagreements.

Key details: Cost Sharing: Equal (CA Civil Code §841). Prior Notice: 30 days written notice required. City Mediation: Not available. Code: CA Civil Code §841.

The rules around neighbor fence rules in Redwood City lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Redwood City'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 Redwood City is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Redwood City's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.