Fence Regulations in Brentwood, CA (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Brentwood, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Brentwood residential fences top out at 7 feet along side and rear lines, drop to 42 inches in the front yard, and shrink to 42 inches inside the corner-lot sight triangle. Nonresidential fences in side and rear yards can reach 8 feet. Height is measured from the higher side when grade differs across the fence line.
Brentwood Fence Height Limits by Yard
Some RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code § 17.660.008(C)-(E), (G)
Residential Areas. ... Within residential zones, fences outside of the required front yard may be a maximum of seven feet in height when located on side or rear property lines. Fences may be solid or include decorative lattice at the top. Fences in excess of seven feet shall conform to the zoning ordinance requirements regulating principal or accessory buildings with respect to setbacks. ... Wi...
Neighbor Fence Rules
Hedges and landscaping used as boundary barriers in Brentwood are subject to the same height limits as fences (3.5 ft front, 6 ft side/rear) when used to enclose a yard. Hedges must not encroach into the public right-of-way, block sidewalks, or obscure sight lines at intersections.
Fences: Hedge Rules
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 841
841. (a) Adjoining landowners shall share equally in the responsibility for maintaining the boundaries and monuments between them. (b) (1) Adjoining landowners are presumed to share an equal benefit from any fence dividing their properties and, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties in a written agreement, shall be presumed to be equally responsible for the reasonable costs of construction, ...
Retaining Walls
Brentwood caps a single retaining wall at 4 feet and requires benching with a 2-foot horizontal gap between walls on taller embankments. A building permit is mandatory once a wall exceeds 4 feet from footing to top, or when it supports a steep surcharge slope. A geotechnical engineer's report can justify a taller exception.
Brentwood Retaining Wall Height and Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code § 17.660.008.I
Retaining walls shall not exceed a height of four feet. An embankment to be retained that is over four feet in height shall be benched so that no individual retaining wall exceeds a height of four feet above finished grade, and each bench has a minimum horizontal distance of two feet between each wall. An exception may be granted for a higher wall if necessary due to slope and/or soils, based o...
Material Restrictions
Brentwood outlaws barbed wire, razor wire, electrified fencing, and chain link visible from public areas in every residential zone. Commercial properties can use these materials only with planning commission design review or conditional use permit approval, or when another law requires them. Temporary mesh and panel fencing is barred outside construction sites and permitted events.
Brentwood Bans Barbed Wire and Chain Link Fences
Significant RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code § 17.660.008.H
Prohibited Fences. The following types of fences or fencing material are prohibited within all residential zones. In commercial zones, the following types of fencing material are prohibited unless specifically approved by the planning commission in conjunction with a design review or conditional use permit, or as required by city, state, or federal laws or regulations: 1. Barbed wire, razor, or...
Looking for Contra Costa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Brentwood city rules.
Fence Regulations in Contra Costa County →