7 rules for unincorporated Imperial County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Imperial County, Title 9, Division 4, Chapter 3 limits fencing in a required front yard of an 'R' or residential 'A' zone to 30 inches if obscure or 48 inches if translucent. Wood, stucco, wrought iron and chain link fences under 6 feet are approved in any zone.
Unincorporated Imperial County does not require a building permit for masonry walls four feet or less in height, but those still must meet the County's masonry-fence handout and pass foundation, reinforcement and final inspections. Masonry fences over four feet must be engineered and built to the adopted California Building Code.
Imperial County's Title 9 fence rules add a corner-lot sight-distance limit (fencing may not exceed 30 inches where it would obstruct traffic visibility). Cost-sharing for a shared boundary fence is governed by California's statewide Good Neighbor Fence Law, Civil Code Section 841, which presumes adjoining owners share costs equally.
Imperial County's Title 9 fence chapter focuses on masonry walls rather than soil-retaining walls. Masonry walls over four feet must be engineered and built to the adopted California Building Code; masonry four feet or less needs no building permit but requires foundation, reinforcement and final inspections. Retaining-wall permitting follows the adopted Building Code.
Title 9, Division 4, Chapter 3 requires fences in unincorporated Imperial County to be built of approved fencing or construction materials, kept within height and sight-distance limits, and engineered if masonry over four feet. Junk materials like tires, cans, broken glass and used car parts are not allowed.
Title 9, Division 4, Chapter 3 bars barbed or razor-edge wire in all residential zones and on property abutting residential areas, and prohibits electrified fences in all zones except for animal containment in 'A' (agricultural) zones or security fencing at government institutions. Junk materials are also banned.
Title 9, Division 4, Chapter 3 approves wood, stucco, wrought iron and chain link fencing under 6 feet in any zone in unincorporated Imperial County. Masonry over four feet must be engineered to the adopted California Building Code. Barbed/razor wire and electric fencing are restricted, and junk materials are banned.
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