Height Limits: Fresno vs Selma

FMC §15-2006 sets fence heights: 6 ft maximum for side/rear yards, 3 ft for front yards. Wrought iron/tubular steel up to 4 ft in front yard if 80% open. Decorative entry gates up to 7 ft in residential with Director approval.

Selma regulates fence and wall heights through SMC 11-20-14 (Fences; Walls; Hedges), which permits six-foot high fences, walls, and shrubs in side and rear yards but imposes lower limits in front yards to maintain neighborhood visibility and streetscape character. In the required front yard, open fences and shrubs may not exceed 48 inches in height, while solid walls and fences are further restricted to a maximum of 42 inches. The distinction between open and solid fences affects the maximum permitted height by six inches, with the more see-through design earning a slightly higher allowance due to its lesser impact on street visibility. All fences, walls, and hedges include gates as part of the definition, and gates are subject to the same height limits as the fence or wall they serve. A critical safety provision requires all fences and shrubs exceeding 42 inches in height to be set back a minimum of ten feet from the street-side property line when a private driveway accesses a public right-of-way through the side yard, ensuring adequate visibility for vehicles entering and exiting the property. Open or lattice-type fences up to six feet are permitted on school sites. The 2024 Zoning Code Update added provisions for screening walls up to 15 feet for RV and equipment storage.