Fence Regulations in Redwood City, CA (2026)
5 verified fence regulations for Redwood City, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Redwood City Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsRedwood City Zoning Code § 36.3(B)-(C)
B.General Requirements.1.Fence Height. Fence height is measured from the nearest adjoining grade. In the case of differing grades, fences are measured from the lowest adjoining grade. Lattice or other decorative elements are counted toward the total fence height.2.Vision Triangles. In order to ensure visibility and safety, no solid fence or hedge exceeding three (3) feet in height shall be loca...
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.
Redwood City Fence Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsRedwood City Zoning Code § 36.3(C)(2)
2.Interior Side and Rear. All fences, regardless of type, are limited to seven (7) feet in height in the side or rear yards. Such height may be increased to ten (10) feet in any district except the Professional Office (PO) or any Residential (R) District upon approval of an Architectural Permit.3.Exterior Side (Street Side).a.Fences are limited to six (6) feet in height in the side yard adjacen...
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.
Redwood City Fence Neighbor Rules
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code § 841
(2) Where a landowner intends to incur costs for a fence described in paragraph (1), the landowner shall give 30 days’ prior written notice to each affected adjoining landowner. The notice shall include notification of the presumption of equal responsibility for the reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement of the fence. The notice shall include a description of th...
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.
Redwood City Retaining Wall Permit Fees
Some RestrictionsRedwood City Code §§ 9.53, 9.55-9.56 (Building Code Appendix J §§ J102.1, J103.2-J103.3)
ENGINEERED GRADING. An excavation greater than two (2) feet in depth; where cut slope is greater than five (5) feet in height; where fill is to be placed on natural grade steeper than 20% (1:5 ratio); where fill is greater than three (3) feet in height; where fill supports a structure; or where more than 50 cubic yards of fill is placed. ... J103.2 Exemptions. A grading permit shall not be requ...
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.
Redwood City Prohibited Fence Materials
Significant RestrictionsRedwood City Zoning Code § 36.3(A), (B)(3)
A.Definitions.1.Fence. An artificially constructed barrier or wall of any material or combination of materials erected to physically separate properties, provide privacy, or provide security or confinement. Walls are included in the definition of a fence.2.Open Fence. A fence, including any gates in such fence, that permits direct vision through at least eighty percent (80%) of any one (1) squa...
Looking for San Mateo County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Redwood City city rules.
Fence Regulations in San Mateo County →