Fence Regulations in Salem, OR (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Salem, Oregon, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Salem caps residential fences and walls at 8 feet generally, but drops that to 4 feet within 20 feet of a front street property line and 6 feet in a side or rear yard within 10 feet of a street, per SRC 800.050(a); nonresidential fences can run up to 12 feet.
Salem Fence Height Limits by Yard
Some RestrictionsSalem Revised Code § 800.050(a)
(a)Location, height, and density. ... (1)Fences and walls.(A)Residential zones and property used for uses falling under household living in other zones. Fences and walls within residential zones, or on property used for uses falling under household living in other zones, shall not exceed a maximum height of eight feet; provided, however:(i)Front yard abutting street. Fences and walls within a f...
Fence Permit Requirements
Salem does not require a site plan review permit to build a fence, wall, or retaining wall. City code lists "construction of a fence or retaining wall" among the specific project types exempt from site plan review under Salem Revised Code (SRC) 220.005, so most residential fence projects proceed without a discretionary land-use approval, provided the fence meets the height and location standards of SRC 800.050.
When Salem Requires a Fence Permit
Light RestrictionsSalem Revised Code § 220.005(a)(2)(A)
(2)Exemptions.(A)The following development that requires a building permit is exempt from site plan review:(i)Development of a single family use, two family use, three family use, four family use, or cottage cluster on an individual lot, including the construction of accessory structures and paving associated with such uses.(ii)Sign installation...(vi)Demolition permit.(vii)Construction of a fe...
Retaining Walls
Salem caps retaining walls at four feet when they sit at the property line abutting a street, but allows greater height once the wall is set back from that street-facing line. The rule sits in SRC 800.050(a)(4), the same fence-and-wall section, and like fence construction, retaining walls are exempt from Salem's site plan review process.
Salem Retaining Wall Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSalem Revised Code § 800.050(a)(4)
(4)Retaining walls. Retaining walls shall not exceed a maximum height of four feet when located at the property line abutting a street. Retaining walls not located at the property line abutting a street may exceed four feet in height.
Material Restrictions
Salem's SRC 800.050(c)-(d) bans junk fencing materials citywide and forbids barbed wire and electric fencing on residential property, allowing them only to enclose livestock or in specific commercial and industrial zones, with posted warning signs required.
Salem Bans Barbed & Electric Fencing at Homes
Significant RestrictionsSalem Revised Code § 800.050(c)-(d)
(c)Material.(1)Fences. Fences shall be constructed of materials specifically designed and manufactured for fencing purposes, including, but not limited to, wooden pickets, vinyl, wrought iron, and chainlink fencing, with or without plastic or wood slats. Materials not specifically designed as fencing material, including, but not limited to, corrugated cardboard, corrugated metal, plywood, woode...
Looking for Marion County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Salem city rules.
Fence Regulations in Marion County →