7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Madera County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Madera County's Zoning Ordinance (Title 18) does not set a general numeric fence height limit for residential or agricultural lots. The main constraints are vision-clearance rules at intersections (Section 18.98.050, 3-foot limit on visual obstructions) and the statewide building permit threshold of 7 feet.
Madera County adopts the California Building Code through County Code Title 14 (Chapters 14.04 and 14.08). Under the adopted Building Code (Section 105.2), a building permit is not required for fences 7 feet or less in height. Taller fences, and any fence in a regulated location, require review by the County.
Madera County has no boundary-fence cost-sharing ordinance. Shared-fence responsibilities are governed by California Civil Code Section 841, the Good Neighbor Fence Act, which presumes adjoining owners share equally in the reasonable cost of a common boundary fence and requires 30 days' written notice before work.
Madera County adopts the California Building Code (County Code §14.04.030, Chapter 14.08). Under the adopted Building Code Section 105.2, retaining walls over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall require a permit, as does any wall supporting a surcharge regardless of height.
Beyond the general zoning location rules in Title 18, fences in rural Madera County must also satisfy state fire-clearance standards. Parcels of one acre or more in State Responsibility Areas must meet Public Resources Code 4290 setback and clearance requirements (County Code §18.98.010 and §18.98.070).
Madera County's Zoning Ordinance (Title 18) does not list prohibited fence materials or restrict barbed wire, razor wire, or electric fencing for typical residential and agricultural lots. The main material-related constraint is the vision-clearance rule (§18.98.050), which requires open, see-through fencing in intersection sight areas.
Madera County's Zoning Ordinance does not prescribe approved fence materials. Wood, vinyl, masonry, ornamental metal, chain link, and agricultural wire fencing are all commonly used in the unincorporated county. The only material-related zoning rule is the clear-vision fencing requirement near intersections (§18.98.050).
1 cities in Madera County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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