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

Mariposa County has no incorporated cities, so the same County rules apply everywhere. For most rural parcels, the main requirement is the building-permit threshold: fences 7 feet or less are exempt, and taller fences need a permit from the County Building Department under the California Residential Building Code. The Planning Department states it does not regulate fence placement in rural areas. The more detailed requirements appear inside adopted Town Planning Areas. In the Mariposa Town Planning Area, the zoning ordinance allows fences three feet or less in height within the required front-yard setback, and fences six feet or less within the side-yard and rear-yard setbacks (Mariposa County Code Section 17.336.010.A). Fences in a Town Planning Area may also be subject to Design Review for height, structure, and materials. Where a fence is on or near a property line, owners should also be mindful of the California Good Neighbor Fence Law (Civil Code 841) governing shared boundary fences, and of any pool-barrier fencing rules, which the State Building Code applies to swimming pools regardless of zone. Verify your parcel's zone and Town Planning Area status before building.