Fence Regulations in San Rafael, CA (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
San Rafael caps residential fences at four feet in front and street-side yards but allows up to seven feet in rear and interior side yards for privacy, with a further increase to nine feet possible through administrative design review.
San Rafael Privacy Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.140.A.1
Fences and retaining walls not exceeding four feet (4′) in height, may be located within the front or street side yard setback...Fences not exceeding seven feet (7′) in height may be located within the required rear yard or interior side yard.
Fence Permit Requirements
San Rafael lets homeowners build a 4-foot fence in front and street-side yards and a 7-foot fence in rear and interior side yards without a building permit. A building permit is required once a fence tops 7 feet or a retaining wall exceeds 4 feet, per San Rafael Municipal Code Section 14.16.140.
San Rafael Fence Height and Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.140.A.1.e
1.Permitted.a.Front and Street Side Yard Areas. The following may be located within the required front and street side yard:i.Fences and retaining walls not exceeding four feet (4′) in height, may be located within the front or street side yard setback, provided that the fence or wall shall not conflict with the sight distance requirements of Section 14.16.295; ... b.Rear Yard and Interior Side...
Retaining Walls
San Rafael caps retaining walls at four feet in required rear and interior side yards; taller retaining walls on hillside parcels with 25%+ slope need environmental and design review to minimize grading and tree removal impacts.
San Rafael Retaining Wall Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.140.A.1.b.ii, A.2.a
Retaining walls not exceeding a height of four feet (4′) in height may be located within the required rear yard and interior side yard.2.With Required Planning Permits. The following may be permitted in residential districts with prior approval of design review (pursuant to Section 14.25.040.C.) and/or exception (pursuant to Chapter 14.24) as noted:a.Retaining walls over four feet (4′) in heigh...
Material Restrictions
San Rafael bans concertina wire, razor wire, broken glass and electrified fences in every district, and bars barbed wire wherever it would abut a residential use. Chain link and wire mesh fences are also barred from any residential yard that fronts a street, right-of-way or waterway.
San Rafael Bans Barbed and Electric Fences
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.140.C.4
4.Prohibited Materials. In all districts, concertina wire, razor wire, broken glass on top of a fence, and electrified fences are prohibited. Barbed wire shall not be permitted where abutting residential uses. In residential districts, wire mesh, chain link and similar fences are prohibited within any yard which fronts a public street, right-of-way or waterway, except as may be required as an e...
Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.
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