Fence Regulations in San Diego County, CA (2026)

County of San Diego Planning & Development Services, Form PDS-070 Fences (Rev. 01/01/2023), Excerpts from County Zoning Ordinance § 6708

EXCERPTS FROM ZONING ORDINANCE § 6708 Fences and walls are permitted at the following locations provided they conform to the height limitations shown below:  Main building area: Permitted up to the maximum height applicable to the main building  Front or exterior side yard: Permitted up to a maximum height of 42 inches  Rear or interior side yard: Permitted up to a maximum height of 72 inche...

San Diego County Code § 91.1.105.2(a)(4)

Fences and free standing masonry walls, other than swimming pool barriers, not over 6 feet high. A building permit shall also not be required for open fences up to eight feet high provided the uppermost two feet consists only of barbed or razor wire and necessary support elements placed at an angle to the vertical for security purposes.       (5)   Oil derricks.       (6)   Moveable fixtures, c...

California Civil Code § 841(a)-(b)

(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, maint...

San Diego County Code § 91.1.105.2(a)(7)

A building permit shall not be required for the following... (7) Walls that retain not over three feet of soil as measured from the top of the footing to top of retained soil, are not more than 6 feet in total height as measured from the lowest finished grade, and have a level backfill with no other structures within 6 feet and not supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids.

San Diego County Zoning Ordinance § 6704.a

Materials for Fences and Walls. Fences and walls may be of any material commonly used in the construction of fences and walls, or otherwise acceptable by the Department, except as hereinafter specified. Such fence or wall shall meet any criteria for sturdiness and construction as established in other County regulations. b.   Opaqueness or Transparency of Fences. The degree of opaqueness or tran...