7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Placer County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Placer County, fences in the front setback are limited to 3 feet, with open-style fencing allowed up to 6 feet in RA/RF zones and 4 feet in RS/RM zones where the site and surrounding parcels are at least one acre. Street-side and side/rear fences may be taller.
Placer County Code § 17.54.030.B.1 (quoted in Hunter Variance Staff Report PLN24-00276, Nov. 21, 2024)
Fence Height within the Front Setback. Three feet, except that open wire, chain link, wood rail, or other similar types of fencing (consisting of only such materials as do not conflict with vehicle sight distance, as determined by the department of public works) may be constructed to a height of four feet in the residential single-family (RS) where the site and surrounding parcels are at least ...
Under the California Building Code (Section 105.2) adopted by Placer County, fences not over 7 feet high are exempt from a building permit. Permit exemption does not waive zoning rules; fences must still comply with Placer County Zoning Ordinance height and setback standards.
Placer County Hunter Variance PLN24-00276, Conditions of Approval, Condition 2 (Nov. 21, 2024)
Prior to any construction on site, a building permit shall be obtained from the Placer County Building Services Division as required. (PLN)
Placer County's Zoning Ordinance does not assign boundary-fence cost responsibility between neighbors. That is governed by California's Good Neighbor Fence Act, Civil Code Section 841, which presumes adjoining owners share equally in the cost of a dividing fence and requires 30 days' written notice before incurring costs.
Placer County's Zoning Ordinance addresses combined retaining-wall-and-fence height in side and rear yards. County code and variance reports indicate a combined retaining wall and fence may reach up to eight feet in a side or rear yard area when not within a required front or street-side setback. Structural retaining walls also require a building permit.
Placer County requires screening fencing or walls with certain development. New development must provide opaque screen fencing (solid wood, masonry, or similar) in addition to any fencing required by building codes or state/federal law, and commercial/industrial sites abutting non-commercial zones must provide a 6-to-8-foot solid wall or fence.
Placer County ties some fence materials to setback location. In the front setback, only open-style materials (open wire, chain link, wood rail, or similar that do not block vehicle sight distance) may exceed three feet, while solid materials are limited. Required screening must instead be opaque, such as solid wood or masonry.
Recommended Conditions of Approval, Hunter Variance PLN24-00276 (Nov. 21, 2024), citing Placer County Code § 17.54.030.B.1
Fence is to be made with an open material and without any opaque screening. (Condition 3, PLN24-00276)
Placer County permits common fence materials (wood, vinyl, masonry, wire, chain link), but matches material to location under Section 17.54.030. Open materials are required where height exceeds three feet in the front setback, while solid wood or masonry is required where the county mandates opaque screening.
3 cities in Placer County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Placer County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Placer County Ordinance Hub →