Mendocino County, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Fence heights in the unincorporated inland area of Mendocino County are governed by the Title 20 Inland Zoning Code, which applies to all property outside the Coastal Zone. Under Section 20.152.015 (Yards), fences and hedges in front yards and in any rear or side yard having street frontage may not exceed three and one-half (3.5) feet, while fences in rear or side yards not having street frontage may not exceed eight (8) feet. The County notes that fences over six feet require a building permit. These limits apply specifically to view-obstructing fences such as board and picket fences; fences used for the containment of animals (barbed wire, chicken wire, hog wire, and similar loose-meshed wire) and non-view-obscuring fences such as cyclone (chain-link) fences are not subject to the above height restrictions. The County is large and rural, and standards can differ between zoning districts, so the underlying district regulations and any corner-lot sight-distance rules should always be confirmed. In the Coastal Zone, the Mendocino County Coastal Zoning Code (Division II) controls instead; because a fence can qualify as 'development,' it may require a Coastal Development Permit, and in designated highly scenic areas new development west of Highway 1 is limited to 18 feet above natural grade with coastal view protection (Section 20.504.015).