Fence Requirements: Fresno vs Selma

Residential fences in Fresno are capped at 6 feet in side and rear yards, 3 feet in front yards, and must stay within the corner sight triangle at 3 feet. Material rules in FMC §15-2019 require finished materials facing the street and prohibit barbed wire, razor wire, and electric fencing in residential zones.

Selma's comprehensive fence requirements under SMC 11-20-14 establish a detailed regulatory framework covering height limits by yard location, material restrictions by zoning district, special provisions for commercial-residential buffer interfaces, and standards for screening outdoor storage. The ordinance requires a six-foot solid masonry wall at the boundary between any area zoned C (Commercial), M (Manufacturing), or R-O (Residential-Office) and any adjacent residential area, serving as a noise and visual buffer that must be installed by the developer at the time of construction. In residential zones, standard fences may be up to six feet in side and rear yards, while front yards are limited to 48 inches for open fences and 42 inches for solid walls to maintain neighborhood visibility and streetscape character. Gates are included in the definition of fences, walls, and hedges and are subject to the same height restrictions as the fence they serve. Corner lot properties must comply with sight triangle visibility requirements at intersections, limiting fence height to 42 inches or less within the designated sight area. The 2024 Zoning Code Update consolidated and modernized fence standards, incorporating new provisions for screening requirements, RV storage enclosures, and updated development standards that work in conjunction with the existing SMC 11-20-14 framework.