2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Sonoma County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Sonoma County, fence height is governed by Sec. 26-88-030 of the Sonoma County Zoning Code (Chapter 26, Article 88: General Exceptions and Special Use Standards). In residential and recreation/visitor-serving zoning districts (AR, RR, R1, R2, R3, and K), fences may not exceed 3 feet in height within the required front-yard setback and within 15 feet of a street corner, and 6 feet within side and rear yard setbacks. Permit Sonoma form PJR-133 (Fence Guidelines) explains the rules and the BPC-023 form details building-permit thresholds. There are no setback or height restrictions for fences in agricultural and resource districts (LEA, LIA, DA, RRD) or industrial/commercial districts (CO, LC, C1, C2, C3, CR, AS, MP, M1, M2, M3) except where the Scenic Resources (SR) combining district applies. All fences must be located at least 6 inches outside of public rights-of-way and easements. Heights above the setback limits may be allowed by Minor Use Permit. The Scenic Resources Combining District (Article 64) and Coastal Zone (Chapter 26C) impose additional siting, color, and materials standards on fences visible from designated scenic corridors like Highway 1, Highway 12, and the Russian River. Fences exceeding 7 feet (solid wood/concrete/metal/masonry) or 10 feet (any material) require a building permit under California Building Code Sec. R105.2 as adopted in Chapter 7.
Fences in unincorporated Sonoma County usually do not need a building permit, but several specific triggers require one. Under Permit Sonoma's PJR-133 (Fence Guidelines) and BPC-023 (Fence Requirements), no permit is needed for fences that comply with the height limits of Sec. 26-88-030 (3 ft front-yard / 6 ft side and rear in residential zones), do not exceed 7 feet of solid wood, concrete, metal, or masonry, and are not in a special combining district. A building permit is required for any fence exceeding 7 feet in solid construction or 10 feet in any material under California Building Code Sec. R105.2 as adopted in Chapter 7 of the County Code. A Minor Use Permit (or fence height exception under Sec. 26-92) is required to exceed the Article 88 height limits within required setbacks. Administrative Design Review is required for solid fences 3-6 feet in front-yard setbacks, all fences in the Scenic Resources (SR) combining district, and fences on commercial and industrial properties. A Coastal Development Permit may be required for fences in the Coastal Zone (CC suffix) under Chapter 26C. Fences along county roads must be at least 6 inches outside the public right-of-way; an encroachment permit from Sonoma County Public Infrastructure is required for any structure within a road right-of-way under Chapter 11.
2 cities in Sonoma County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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