5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Kern County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In Kern County's Estate (E) and Residential (R-1, R-2, R-3) zones, fences in the required front yard cannot exceed 4 feet, while side and rear yard fences are capped at 6 feet. Heights are measured from finished interior grade.
Kern County Code of Ordinances § 19.08.210
In the E (1/4), E (1/2), E (1), E (2-1/2), R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts, no fence, wall or hedge located in the required front yard shall exceed a height of four (4) feet... no fence, wall or hedge located in the rear or side yards shall exceed a height of six (6) feet, except when a higher fence, wall or hedge is required as a condition of approval of a discretionary permit.
Per the California Building Code as adopted in Kern County Title 17, fences not over 7 feet high are exempt from building permits. Fences exceeding 7 feet, masonry retaining walls, and pool-enclosure barriers require a permit from the Kern County Public Works Building Inspection Division.
Kern County Code of Ordinances Title 17, Chapter 17.08 (adopting California Building Code § 105.2)
A building permit shall not be required for the following: ... Fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high. (California Building Code Section 105.2, as adopted by reference in Kern County Code Title 17 Chapter 17.08.)
In unincorporated Kern County, boundary-fence disputes between neighbors are governed by California's Good Neighbor Fence Act (Civil Code Section 841), which presumes adjoining landowners share equally in the reasonable costs of building, maintaining, or replacing a shared fence. A landowner who intends to incur fence costs must give each affected neighbor 30 days' prior written notice.
California Civil Code Section 841
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,...
In unincorporated Kern County, a retaining wall needs a building permit if it is over 4 feet tall measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or if it supports a surcharge or impounds Class I, II, or III-A liquids at any height. The retaining portion of a wall does not count toward the county's zoning height limits for fences and walls.
Kern County Ordinance Code Section 17.08.060 (amending California Building Code Section 105.2)
17.08.060 Section 105.2 amended - Work exempt from permit. A. Section 105.2 is amended by replacing building items 1, 2, 3 and 4 to read as follows: Building [...] 4. Retaining walls that are not over four feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. EXCEPTIONS: a. Supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids. b. Walls retaining...
Kern County prohibits barbed wire and electrified fences in residential and Estate zones, with narrow exceptions: electrified fences are allowed only for animal containment on RS-combining-district lots of at least 2.5 acres. Sharp wire or points are also barred at the top of fences under 6 feet.
Kern County Code of Ordinances § 19.08.210
No barbed wire shall be used or maintained as part or on any fence, wall, or hedge located along the front, side, or rear lines of any lot, or within three (3) feet of such lines, and no sharp wire or points shall project at the top of any fence or wall less than six (6) feet in height. No electrified fences shall be permitted, regardless of location, except for purposes of animal containment o...
3 cities in Kern County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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