Fence Regulations in Contra Costa County, CA (2026)

5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Contra Costa County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Height Limits

In unincorporated Contra Costa County, fences may be built up to 7 feet tall without a building permit. Anything taller, or any concrete or masonry wall, requires a permit from the County Building Inspection Division.

Fences capped at 7 feet without a permit

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Section 72-6.202

According to the 2022 California Residential Code (CRC), permits shall not be required for the following: ... 2. Fences not over 7 feet high. Concrete and masonry walls are considered walls, not fences and do require building permits.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Fence Permit Requirements

Building permits are not required for fences up to 7 feet tall in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Taller fences, any concrete or masonry wall, and retaining walls over 3 feet require a permit from the Building Inspection Division.

No permit needed for fences 7 feet or shorter

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Section 72-6.202

Per Contra Costa County Ordinance 72-6.202: No person, firm, or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building or structure regulated by this title ... without first obtaining the necessary permits from the county building official. According to the 2022 California Residential Code (CRC), permits shall not be required for the ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Neighbor Fence Rules

Hedges and living screens in unincorporated Contra Costa County are generally treated as landscaping and are not subject to the same permit thresholds as fences, but height limits in corner-lot visibility triangles and spite-fence rules (Civil Code §841.4 over 10 feet) still apply.

Fences: Hedge Rules

Few Restrictions

Cal. CIV Code § 841

(a) Adjoining landowners shall share equally in the responsibility for maintaining the boundaries and monuments between them. (b) (1) Adjoining landowners are presumed to share an equal benefit from any fence dividing their properties and, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties in a written agreement, shall be presumed to be equally responsible for the reasonable costs of construction, maint...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls up to 3 feet (measured footing to top) are exempt from building permits in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Combined with a fence, the total height may not exceed 7 feet, and the wall portion may not exceed 3 feet.

Retaining walls capped at 3 feet without a permit

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Section 72-6.202

Retaining walls that are not more than three feet in height, measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall, and that have a downward slope at the bottom of the retaining wall not exceeding 1(vertical): 10(horizontal), unless supporting a surcharge or ground slope exceeding 1 (vertical): 2 (horizontal) or impounding class I, II, or III-a liquids.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Material Restrictions

Contra Costa County's Ordinance Code does not impose a general material restriction on residential fences in unincorporated areas. The only material-specific rule is that concrete and masonry walls are classified as walls (not fences) and require a building permit regardless of height.