7 rules for unincorporated Tehama County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Tehama County, the zoning code caps fence height only in residential (R) districts: 6 feet in side and rear yards, and 3 feet for fences and hedges within the front yard setback. Most rural agricultural land has no specific zoning height cap, but the statewide 7-foot building-permit threshold still applies.
Tehama County does not require a planning permit for ordinary fences within zoning height limits, but the California Building Code it has adopted requires a building permit for any fence over 7 feet tall. Retaining walls over 4 feet also need a permit. Always confirm zoning compliance before building.
Tehama County's zoning code does not assign cost-sharing for boundary fences; that is governed by California Civil Code Section 841, the 'good neighbor' fence law. Adjoining owners are presumed equally responsible for a shared boundary fence, and 30 days' written notice is required before incurring costs.
Tehama County's zoning ordinance does not set retaining-wall heights directly. Under the California Building Code the county enforces, a retaining wall over 4 feet tall (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall), or any wall supporting a surcharge, requires a building permit and engineering.
Fences in unincorporated Tehama County must comply with residential height limits (6 feet side/rear, 3 feet in the front setback), sight-distance rules at corners and driveways, and the building code (permit required over 7 feet). Pool-enclosure fencing is regulated separately under state safety standards.
Tehama County's zoning ordinance does not restrict fence materials in general residential or agricultural districts — wood, vinyl, chain-link, masonry, and wire are all common. Height limits in Section 17.08.030 and the building code apply regardless of material. No countywide ban on barbed wire or specific materials appears in the code.
Common fence materials — wood, vinyl, chain-link, welded and field wire, and masonry block — are all permitted in unincorporated Tehama County. The zoning code governs fence height and location, not material. Tall masonry walls follow the same permit and engineering rules as any fence over 7 feet.
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