Alameda County Zoning Code §17.52.430 limits fences to 4 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards. A 2-foot limit applies within 30 feet of street intersections for sight visibility.
Fence heights in unincorporated Alameda County are governed by Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17.52 (General Requirements), Sections 17.52.430 through 17.52.450 of the County Code of Ordinances. Section 17.52.430 sets the standard height limits: fences within a required front yard may not exceed 4 feet; fences within 3 feet of the street-side property line on a corner lot may not exceed 4 feet, with up to 6 feet allowed at or beyond the 3-foot offset; fences in required interior side and rear yards may not exceed 6 feet; and fences outside required yards may not exceed 6 feet. Section 17.52.440 contains exceptions, allowing greater heights where required by other law or as a condition of a conditional use permit or variance, but in no case greater than 12 feet. Section 17.52.450 specifies that height is measured from the centerline grade of the adjacent street or, where there is no adjacent street, from the natural grade. A separate sight-distance rule limits fences within 30 feet of street intersections to 2 feet to preserve traffic visibility. Definitions of "fence," "yard," and related terms appear in Chapter 17.04. The Alameda County Community Development Agency Planning Department administers zoning, while incorporated cities (Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Leandro, Dublin, Union City, Newark, Albany, Emeryville, Piedmont) have separate fence ordinances. California Civil Code §841 governs shared boundary fences between adjoining owners and presumes equal responsibility for reasonable construction and maintenance costs, with 30-day written notice required before billing a neighbor.
Fences exceeding §17.52.430 limits are zoning violations enforced by the Alameda County Community Development Agency Code Enforcement division. Owners may be required to lower or remove the fence to comply. Continuing violations may incur administrative fines and code enforcement liens recorded against the property under the County's nuisance abatement procedures. Variances or conditional use permits may be sought through the Planning Department for legitimate height exceedances up to 12 feet.
See how Alameda County's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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