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

The Colusa County Zoning Code (Chapter 44) does not set general fence-design, construction, or maintenance standards for ordinary residential fences. It does impose targeted fencing requirements for specific uses. Under Article 44-4 (Special Use Provisions), all animals except household pets kept outdoors must be kept in a fenced area sufficient to prevent them from roaming beyond the property line, with a roofed enclosure or shed inside the fenced area providing cover. Separately, County Code Chapter 12B (abandoned, wrecked, or inoperative vehicles) lets an owner avoid nuisance abatement by screening a vehicle behind a solid six-foot fence so it is not visible, as an alternative to enclosing it in a building. Swimming-pool enclosure fences must comply with the statewide Swimming Pool Safety Act and the California Building/Residential Code, which the county enforces through its Building Code (Chapter 5). For general fences, the only construction trigger is the building-permit threshold: a building permit is needed only when a fence exceeds 7 feet under California Residential Code R105.2. Beyond these, fence material and appearance are largely left to the property owner, subject to sight-distance safety at driveways and intersections.