Fence Regulations in Santa Clara County, CA (2026)

Santa Clara County Zoning Ordinance § 4.20.050

Fences or hedges shall not exceed three feet in height within any portion of a lot within 20 feet of the front lot line (or edge of front right-of-way). Fences shall not exceed eight feet in height within any other portion of a lot... On corner lots, fences or hedges along the exterior side lot line...may be as tall as eight feet, except that a three-foot height limitation shall apply within th...

Santa Clara County Zoning Ordinance § 5.50.050

The following types of buildings and structures are deemed minor in character and are exempt from design review...F.Fences three feet or less in height;G.Open fences, having a composition (solid components vs open "gap" components) where not more than 25 percent of the surface area is solid when viewed from a position perpendicular to the fence; and that meet the applicable fence height require...

Cal. Civ. Code § 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act)

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, maintenanc...

Santa Clara County Ordinance Code § C12-406

No person shall do any grading, or cause or allow the same to be done, on any real property, without obtaining a Grading Permit for the following:(a)Cuts or fills, which each independently are greater than 150 cubic yards; or(b)Cut or fill that is greater than five feet in vertical depth at its deepest point when measured from the natural ground surface; or(c)Work that alters, diverts, or impai...

Santa Clara County Zoning Ordinance § 3.50.090(E)(7)

New and replacement fencing shall be built of wood similar to the early wood fencing, or other historically compatible design and materials. Fences and hedges shall otherwise conform with provisions of Section 4.20.050.8.Painting and decorating: New construction paint colors should be compatible with those that were used during the mid-to-late 1800s in this location. In general, color preferenc...