Berkeley limits fences to 6 feet in rear and side yards and 3.5 feet in front yards under BMC zoning, with hillside and view-corridor considerations in the Berkeley Hills.
Berkeley Municipal Code zoning regulations limit fences in residential districts to 6 feet maximum in rear and interior side yards, and 3.5 feet (42 inches) in required front yard setbacks. Corner lots have additional visibility triangle rules that further restrict fence height near driveways and intersections for traffic safety. The Berkeley Hills neighborhoods have view-preservation considerations and some historic districts impose stricter limits. Decorative features like lattice can add up to 2 feet of height if at least 50 percent open. Fences exceeding these limits require a Zoning Administrator variance. Retaining walls are measured separately when they support a fence on top.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Berkeley, CA
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