Shasta County, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Requirements (2026)

Building a compliant fence in the unincorporated county means satisfying both zoning and building requirements administered by the Department of Resource Management. Under the Zoning Plan (Title 17), Section 17.84.030, a fence, wall or hedge may not exceed three feet within a required front yard or within the street-side yard of a corner lot, and may not exceed six feet in a rear or interior side yard in residential districts; open wire fencing is exempt from these caps, and a use permit is required to exceed them. Exact required yards depend on the zone district - for example, the one-family residential (R-1) district requires a 20-foot front, 15-foot rear, and side yards of 5 and 12 feet, while rural residential (R-R), limited residential (R-L) and limited agriculture (A-1) districts require 30-foot front, side and rear setbacks. Fences generally may be placed within required yards subject to the height caps, but must preserve corner and driveway sight visibility. Under the California Building Code (Section 105.2), a building permit from the Building Division is required for any fence over seven feet, and for concrete or masonry walls over four feet from the footing. Because property lines are not always where owners assume, a fence intended to sit on the boundary should be located by survey, and shared boundary fences are subject to California Civil Code Section 841. Always confirm your zone and yard requirements before installing.