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

A compliant fence in the unincorporated inland area of Mendocino County must satisfy several requirements. Height and placement are set by Section 20.152.015 of the Inland Zoning Code: view-obstructing fences may not exceed 3.5 feet in front yards or in any rear or side yard having street frontage, and may not exceed 8 feet in rear or side yards without street frontage. A building permit is required for any fence over six feet. The height limits do not apply to loose-meshed animal-containment fencing or non-view-obscuring fences such as chain-link. On corner lots and near driveways, fences must also preserve sight-distance/visibility as required by the zoning code and Department of Transportation. Swimming pool enclosures are a special category: the California Building Code requires barrier fencing (commonly a minimum 60-inch/5-foot barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates) around pools and spas, and this state requirement applies countywide. Because Mendocino County is large and rural, specific standards can vary by zoning district, and agricultural districts allow extensive fencing for livestock that is exempt from the ornamental-fence height limits. In the Coastal Zone, additional requirements apply under the Division II Coastal Zoning Code: a fence can be 'development' requiring a Coastal Development Permit, and in highly scenic areas west of Highway 1, new development is limited to 18 feet above natural grade with mandatory protection of coastal views (Section 20.504.015).