Fence Regulations in San Bernardino County, CA (2026)

5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in San Bernardino County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Height Limits

Fences and walls in unincorporated San Bernardino County top out at 4 feet in front and street-side setbacks, 6 feet on interior side and rear lines for most zones, and drop to 30 inches inside corner sight triangles.

San Bernardino County Fence Height Limits

Some Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 83.06.030

Fences, hedges, and walls may be erected/maintained within required setback areas to the heights identified in Table 83-6, below. See also Figure 83-5. Table 83-6 Maximum Height of Fences, Hedges, and Walls Within Setbacks Land Use Zoning Districts Maximum Height in Setbacks(1) Table 83-6 Maximum Height of Fences, Hedges, and Walls Within Setbacks Land Use Zoning Districts Maximum...

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Fence Permit Requirements

San Bernardino County's Building and Safety Division charges $113 for a residential chain-link, wood, or wrought-iron fencing permit and $189 for all other fencing, plus separate fees for masonry and retaining walls.

San Bernardino County Fence Permit Fees

Some Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 16.0204(h)

(h) Retaining walls, walls and fences: An intake processing fee, set forth in § 16.0204(i)(1), shall be applied to each permit in § 16.0204(h)(3). All fees in § 16.0204(h)(3) include one inspection and additional inspections will be charged a re-inspection fee. ... (3) Chain link, wood and/or wrought iron fencing: (A) Residential: $113.00. (B) All others: $189.00.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Neighbor Fence Rules

The San Bernardino County Development Code sets fence height, materials, and placement, but does not allocate the cost of a shared boundary fence between neighbors. Cost-sharing for division fences is governed by California's Good Neighbor Fence Act (Civil Code Section 841), which presumes adjoining owners share construction and maintenance costs equally after 30 days' written notice.

San Bernardino County Shared & Boundary Fence Rules

Few Restrictions

Cal. Civil Code Sec. 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act — Shared Boundary Fence Costs)

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, ...

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Retaining Walls

In unincorporated San Bernardino County, retaining walls under three feet tall are exempt from setback rules, but taller walls must meet full setback standards and need a Building Division permit under County Code Section 16.0204(h).

San Bernardino County Retaining Wall Rules

Some Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 83.02.070(b)(1)(B)

The minimum setback requirements of this Development Code shall apply to all uses except for the following: ... (B) Retaining walls less than three feet in height above finished grade not to exceed four such walls within the setback.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Material Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 83.06.070 bans permanent chain-link, barbed wire, razor wire, tarp, and electrified fencing across most residential zoning districts in the unincorporated county, with narrower exceptions written for the Mountain and Desert regions. Barbed and razor wire is allowed only above six feet. Retaining walls and fences ordered by a state or federal agency fall outside this chapter.

San Bernardino County Fence Material Bans

Significant Restrictions

San Bernardino County Code § 83.06.070

(a) Chain Link Fencing. Permanent chain link fencing or similar materials (chicken wire, hog fencing, etc.) is prohibited in residential land use zoning districts in the Valley Region, except in those cases where it is not visible from the public right-of-way... In the Desert Region, the prohibition against chain link fencing will not apply. (b) Barbed Wire/Razor Wire Fencing. Barbed wire and r...

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