Fence Regulations in El Dorado County, CA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated El Dorado County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
El Dorado County caps solid front-yard fences at 40 inches and open fences at seven feet, and bars anything over 40 inches inside the corner cross-visibility triangle, under Section 130.30.070(B). Side and rear yards allow a seven-foot cumulative fence-and-wall height in every zone.
El Dorado County Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Zoning Ordinance (Title 130), Section 130.30.070(A)-(C)
B.Front Yards...1.Fences or walls at least 50 percent open shall be allowed up to a height of seven feet in both primary and secondary front yard setbacks...2.Fences or walls which are less than 50 percent open shall not exceed 40 inches in height in the primary front yard setback...8.On corner lots, no fence or wall greater than 40 inches in height shall be placed within the CVA consisting of ...
Fence Permit Requirements
El Dorado County requires a building permit for any fence taller than seven feet under Section 130.30.070(I), reviewed through Title 110's building code. Fences that don't meet the Section's height, setback, or material standards separately need a Minor Use Permit before they can be built.
El Dorado County Fence Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Zoning Ordinance (Title 130), Section 130.30.070(I)-(J)
I.A building permit shall be required, for any fence over seven feet in height, in compliance with Chapter 110.16 (Uniform Building Code) of Title 110 (Buildings and Construction) of the County Code of Ordinances, or as otherwise required by Title 110.J.Fences or walls shall not exceed the requirements of this Section unless and until a Minor Use Permit is granted in compliance with Section 130...
Retaining Walls
A retaining wall over 36 inches high in an El Dorado County front yard can only sit within the setback if the front-half slope exceeds 25 percent, and exposed height then caps at seven feet under Section 130.30.070(B). Go higher and the County requires a Minor Use Permit before construction.
El Dorado County Retaining Wall Height Rules
Some RestrictionsEl Dorado County Zoning Ordinance (Title 130), Section 130.30.070(B)(3)-(5)
3.The setback for a retaining wall greater than 36 inches in height may be reduced by 50 percent where the slope gradient for the front half of the lot exceeds 25 percent, providing:a.The exposed height shall not exceed seven feet.b.Any fence erected on the top of a retaining wall shall meet the requirements identified in this Section for height, construction, and cross-visibility area (CVA) pu...
Material Restrictions
El Dorado County prohibits concertina, serpentine, barbed, and razor wire fencing outright under Section 130.30.070(G), unless a Minor Use Permit proves the material is genuinely needed for security. Court-ordered fencing and agricultural grazing fences are excluded from the ban.
El Dorado County Bans Barbed and Razor Wire
Significant RestrictionsEl Dorado County Zoning Ordinance (Title 130), Section 130.30.070(G)
G.Concertina wire, serpentine wire, barbed wire, razor wire, and other similar fencing materials capable of inflicting significant physical injury shall be prohibited. A Minor Use Permit will be required to allow these materials if it can be demonstrated that the proposed fencing is reasonably necessary to protect persons or property and will not constitute a safety hazard to members of the pub...
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