8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Sutter County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Sutter County, the Zoning Code (Chapter 1500, Table 1500-06-2) limits fences and walls in the front and street-side yard setback to roughly 3 feet 6 inches, while side and rear yard fences may reach about 7 feet. Estate Residential and Ranchette districts allow taller ornamental fencing with Zoning Clearance.
Sutter County Code Sec. 1500-06-040 (Walls and Fences)
Walls and Fences - Within front or street side yard setbacks: Maximum height of 3 feet 6 inches. Outside of front or street side yard setbacks: Maximum Height of 7 feet.
Sutter County regulates fence height and placement through the Zoning Code rather than a stand-alone fence permit. A building permit is generally required only for fences over 7 feet, under the County-adopted California Building Code (Chapter 1300). Taller ornamental fences in ER and Ranchette districts need a Zoning Clearance.
Sutter County Code Sec. 1500-05-040 (Walls and Fences)
Outside of front or street side yard setbacks: Maximum Height of 7 feet exempt from building permit approval or 9 feet subject to building permit approval.
Sutter County's Zoning Code controls fence height and placement, but cost-sharing for a boundary fence between neighbors is governed by California's statewide Good Neighbor Fence Act, Civil Code section 841, which presumes adjoining owners share equally and requires 30 days' written notice before incurring fence costs.
Cal. Civil Code Section 841 (Stats. 2013, Ch. 86 (AB 1404))
(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...
Sutter County follows the adopted California Building Code (County Code Chapter 1300): a retaining wall over 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, requires a building permit, and any wall supporting a surcharge or sloped backfill requires a permit regardless of height.
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act applies in unincorporated Sutter County: a new or remodeled residential pool or spa must have at least two of seven drowning-prevention safety features, and a qualifying pool enclosure must be at least 60 inches tall with self-closing, self-latching gates that open away from the pool.
Cal. Health & Safety Code Section 115923 (Swimming Pool Safety Act)
An enclosure shall have all of the following characteristics: (a) Any access gates through the enclosure open away from the swimming pool, and are self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60 inches above the ground. (b) A minimum height of 60 inches. (c) A maximum vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the enclosure of two inches. (d) Gaps or voids, if any, do ...
Beyond height, Sutter County's Zoning Code requires that fences and walls not obstruct driver visibility. On corner lots, no fence, wall, hedge or other obstruction over 30 inches above curb level is allowed in the clear-vision triangle, and ER/Ranchette ornamental fences must not restrict sight distance as determined by the Planning Director.
Sutter County Code Sec. 1500-06-040 (Corner Lot Clear Vision Triangle; Walls and Fences)
On a corner lot, no fence, wall, hedge, sign or other structure, shrubbery, mounds of earth, or other visual obstruction over 30 inches in height above the top of the existing or planned curb elevation shall be erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow within a residential clear vision triangle. Walls and fences shall be designed and constructed so as not to restrict vehicular traffic sight ...
The Sutter County Zoning Code regulates fence height, placement, and sight distance but does not impose a countywide ban on common fencing materials such as wood, chain-link, vinyl, masonry, or wrought iron. Ornamental wall exceptions in ER/Ranchette districts and pool-barrier fences carry specific design requirements.
Sutter County Code Sec. 1500-06-040 (Walls and Fences)
Within the Estate Residential (ER) and Ranchette (RAN) districts, open ornamental fences (wrought iron or other materials), but excluding chain link, may be established, subject to Zoning Clearance approval, when in compliance with the following: 1. The fence height shall not exceed 7 feet.
Sutter County does not prescribe a list of mandatory fence materials for residential property. The Zoning Code (Table 1500-06-2) instead distinguishes open ornamental fencing from solid walls in front-yard areas for sight-distance reasons, and requires that materials and construction not obstruct vehicular visibility as determined by the Planning Director.
1 cities in Sutter County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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