Santa Cruz, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Requirements (2026)

SCCC 13.10.525 sets functional requirements in addition to height. Fences and walls may not block required sight distance for vehicles entering streets from driveways or at corners; the General Site Standards update moved detailed sight-distance requirements to SCCC 13.16.093. Within corner sight clearance triangles, no fence or wall may exceed 3 feet: these triangles extend 30 feet along each street right-of-way at the intersection of two local neighborhood streets, and 10 feet along the street right-of-way on each side of a residential driveway or alley, with larger triangles possible based on AASHTO standards where vehicle speeds exceed 25 mph. Walkway openings (with or without gates) may have associated archways, trellises, or pergolas up to 8 feet tall without discretionary approval, except in sight-clearance triangles, but such features may not make up more than 25 percent of the fence length along a property line without an Administrative Site Development Permit. Open decorative features such as lattice may exceed the maximum fence height by no more than 6 inches. On steep slopes, open safety railings up to 42 inches are allowed per SCCC 13.10.323. In the Coastal Zone all fence development requires a coastal development permit unless exempt under SCCC 13.20.060 or 13.20.070.