In unincorporated Humboldt County residential zones (RS, R-1, R-2), solid fences within the front-yard setback are capped at 3 feet, while open fences (at least 70% open to light and air) may reach 7 feet. Outside the front-yard setback, fences up to 6 feet are generally allowed without a zoning or building permit.
Humboldt County Code Section 314-73 governs fence height in the inland Residential Suburban (RS), Residential One-Family (R-1), and Residential Two-Family (R-2) zones. Solid fences within the front-yard setback may not exceed three (3) feet, and open fences may not exceed seven (7) feet. To qualify as 'open,' a fence must be at least seventy percent (70%) open to the passage of light and air. Chain link and other woven wire fencing smaller than six (6) gauge is prohibited within the front-yard setback. Section 313-74 imposes parallel rules inside the Coastal Zone. Per the Planning & Building Department, fences up to six feet are exempt from zoning setback requirements anywhere on the parcel; fences over six feet are treated as structures and must meet the underlying zone's setbacks.
Fences exceeding the front-yard limits in Section 314-73 (or 313-74 in the Coastal Zone) constitute a zoning violation. Code Enforcement may issue a notice of violation, require modification or removal, and pursue administrative or misdemeanor penalties. Fences over six feet that lack the required setback or building permit are independently subject to enforcement under the building code (Section 331-11).
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