Riverside County Ordinance 348 and Ord. 457 set general fence requirements: front setback limits, sight-distance triangles, pool-barrier standards, and grading rules. In WUI fire areas the Ord. 787 defensible-space rules affect fence materials next to wildland. Agricultural, scenic-corridor, and HOA parcels carry additional layered requirements.
Under Ordinance 348, a fence must not encroach into any required sight-distance triangle (typically 25 feet at corners), cannot block recorded easements, and cannot be constructed on or across a county road right-of-way. Fences must not create hazardous drainage diversion onto neighbors. Within 5 feet of a structure in WUI Fire Hazard Severity Zones, combustible fence materials (wood, vinyl) are discouraged and Cal Fire Public Resources Code §4291 defensible-space guidance favors non-combustible segments near the house. In designated scenic highway corridors (SR-74, SR-79, SR-243, SR-371), fences visible from the roadway must meet design standards — no razor wire, no bright or reflective materials, and often split-rail or dark-coated options are encouraged. In Specific Plan communities (Menifee Valley areas, Wine Country, Desert Sunrise), additional architectural controls apply. Agricultural parcels allow barbed wire and, with permit, electric livestock fencing. Structures attached to fences (sheds, carports) must meet the zoning setback for main buildings.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Riverside County code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Riverside County.
See how other cities in Riverside County handle fence requirements.
See how Mead Valley's fence requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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