8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Tuolumne County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Tuolumne County's zoning code (Title 17) does not set a numeric residential fence height limit for unincorporated areas. Instead, the statewide California Building Code controls: fences over 7 feet high need a building permit. Walls and fences may sit within required yards.
Tuolumne County does not require a zoning permit for ordinary residential fences. A building permit is needed only when a fence exceeds 7 feet, or a retaining wall exceeds 4 feet from the bottom of its footing, per the adopted California Building Code.
Shared boundary fences in unincorporated Tuolumne County are governed by California's Good Neighbor Fence Law (Civil Code 841), which presumes adjoining owners share fence costs equally and requires 30 days' written notice before building or replacing a division fence.
California Civil Code Section 841
841. (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, ...
In unincorporated Tuolumne County, a retaining wall over 4 feet high, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, requires a building permit under the adopted California Building Code. Walls supporting a surcharge need a permit at any height.
California Health & Safety Code §115920-115929 requires pool barriers statewide, including in Tuolumne County. All pools must have at least a 60-inch (5 ft) barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates and additional safety features.
California Health and Safety Code Sections 115920-115929 (Swimming Pool Safety Act)
115920. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Swimming Pool Safety Act. (Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 925, Sec. 3.5. Effective January 1, 1997.) 115921. As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) “Swimming pool” or “pool” means any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that contains water over 18 inches deep. “Swimming pool” includes i...
Fences in unincorporated Tuolumne County may be placed within required yards but must not obstruct public easements or rights-of-way (Chapter 17.22.030.K) or block sight visibility. Fences over 7 feet need a building permit; pool barriers and screening have separate rules.
Tuolumne County's zoning code does not restrict residential fence materials in most areas; wood, vinyl, chain link, and masonry are all generally allowed. Screening for commercial and refuse areas and Historic district design review impose the main material-related standards.
Standard fence materials are permitted for residential properties in unincorporated Tuolumne County; the zoning code does not mandate specific materials. Design-review areas, commercial screening, and wildfire defensible-space rules are the main influences on material choice.
2 cities in Tuolumne County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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