City of Merced fences must comply with MMC Chapter 20.30 (Walls and Fences): a 7-foot maximum in rear yards, 4 feet in front yards, and 2 1/2 feet at corners and the visual corner of a driveway to preserve driver sight lines. Fences may not encroach into the public right-of-way, an adopted parcel line, or a public use easement.
Within the incorporated City of Merced, walls and fences must be provided and developed in compliance with MMC Chapter 20.30. The core requirements per the City Planning Division are height limits — up to 7 feet in the rear yard, 4 feet in the front yard, and 2 1/2 feet at a corner or the visual corner of a driveway — plus a sight-safety requirement that fences near corners and driveways stay low so they do not block visibility. A fundamental placement requirement is that a fence may not encroach into an adopted parcel/right-of-way line or a public use easement; locating the exact boundary may require a survey. Corner lots carry stricter limits because of the visibility area along the street side. These City standards apply only inside city limits; the unincorporated areas around Merced fall under separate Merced County zoning (Title 18). Fence height is measured from adjacent finished grade. Because zoning compliance is separate from building-permit exemption, even a permit-exempt fence (not over 7 ft under CBC 105.2) must still satisfy the MMC 20.30 standards. The City Planning Division (209-385-6858) confirms standards for individual properties.
Fences that exceed the MMC 20.30 height limits, sit in the right-of-way, or obstruct the corner visibility area are subject to code-enforcement action and an order to modify or remove. Administrative citation amounts follow California Government Code Section 36900(b): $100 first violation, $200 second within a year, $500 for additional violations. Enforcement usually starts with a notice of violation.
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