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

Mono County's General Plan Land Use Element takes a permissive approach to fencing on unincorporated parcels. Section 04.160 expressly states that fences are permitted, but not required. There is no general mandate that a residential lot be fenced, which fits the county's rural, open character. When an owner chooses to build, the fence must comply with the height standards: no more than 7 feet generally, and no more than 4 feet within any required front yard, with taller fences allowed only by use permit and only if they do not obstruct the line of sight from vehicles in roadways or driveways. The county also flags that fencing in sensitive wildlife areas warrants special consideration and points owners to wildlife-friendly fence design best practices in the Conservation/Open Space Element, important in a county crossed by deer migration corridors. Specific situations, such as swimming pools, may carry separate enclosure requirements under the California Building Code, and certain land use designations or specific plans may add conditions. Always verify with the Mono County Community Development Department. These rules apply to unincorporated areas; the incorporated Town of Mammoth Lakes maintains its own fence requirements that do not govern county parcels.