Fence Regulations in Fremont, CA (2026)
5 verified fence regulations for Fremont, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Fremont caps fences and hedges at 8 feet in required side and rear yards and 48 inches in front yards under FMC 18.171.010. Corner lots face tighter limits: 48 inches near the side street line and just 30 inches inside the sight-triangle.
Fremont Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsFremont, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 18.171.010(a)-(b), 18.171.020(a)-(b)
(a) Except as provided elsewhere in this title, no fence shall be erected, altered or placed, and no hedge shall be allowed to grow, that exceeds a height of eight feet in the required rear yard or required side yard of a lot... (b) ...no fence shall be erected, altered or placed, and no hedge shall be allowed to grow, that exceeds the height of 48 inches in the required front yard of a lot. .....
Fence Permit Requirements
Fremont requires a building permit for any fence over 7 feet tall, any concrete or masonry wall over 4 feet, and any retaining wall regardless of height, under FMC 18.171.030(a). Shorter fences within the standard height limits do not need one.
Fremont Fence Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsFremont, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 18.171.030(a)-(b)
(a) Fences over seven feet in height, concrete and masonry walls over four feet in height and retaining walls of any height require a building permit. (b) Fences With Finished Appearances. A fence adjacent to a public right-of-way which is designed with a finished appearance on one side shall be oriented so that the finished side faces such right-of-way.
Neighbor Fence Rules
Fremont applies California Civil Code 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) requiring neighbors to equally share costs of shared boundary fences.
Fremont Neighbor Fence Rules
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 841
Civil Code - CIV, Section 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 reasona...
Retaining Walls
Fremont lets a short open fence sit atop a retaining wall when the wall itself already eats the required yard height, per FMC 18.171.020(d). Where grading creates a slope control area, Section 18.205.330(f) also sets material, engineering and height limits for the wall.
Fremont Retaining Wall Rules
Some RestrictionsFremont, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 18.171.020(d); Sec. 18.205.330(f)
(d) Retaining Walls. Where the height of a retaining wall within a required yard prohibits the erection of a fence at least four feet in height, an open fence not greater than four feet in height may be erected in such yard. ... (f) Retaining Walls. Retaining walls shall be avoided wherever possible, particularly at the toes of high slopes. If retaining walls are installed in slope control area...
Material Restrictions
Fremont bans barbed wire and electrically charged fencing outright in residential zones under FMC 18.171.030(d). Elsewhere, sharp or charged materials are allowed only at least 8 feet above ground, except to contain livestock.
Fremont Barbed Wire Fence Rules
Significant RestrictionsFremont, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 18.171.030(d)
(d) Barbed Wire – Pointed and Electrically Charged Materials. No barbed wire, other sharp-pointed material, or electrically charged material shall be used in the construction of a fence unless said material is at least eight feet above the ground level, except where used to contain livestock. Barbed wire and electrically charged fencing shall be prohibited in residentially zoned districts. Elec...
Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fremont city rules.
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