In unincorporated Stanislaus County, fences in required side and rear yards may reach eight feet, but fences in a required front yard (or the street-side yard of a corner lot) are limited to three feet so visibility is preserved. Fences over seven feet need a building permit.
Stanislaus County's Title 21 Zoning Ordinance sets fence heights by yard rather than a single property-wide limit. For the Single-Family Residential (R-1) district, Section 21.28.040 states that no fence, hedge or screen planting may exceed eight feet within any required side or rear yard, nor exceed three feet within any required front yard or the side yard of a corner lot, except where the planning director determines visibility will not be obstructed. The Rural Residential (R-A) district carries the identical rule in Section 21.24.040. The County Planning FAQ explains the practical effect: within the first 15 feet behind the ultimate front property line, no fence may exceed three feet; beyond that front-yard area a fence may rise to seven feet without a building permit. On corner lots, the first 10 feet behind the side property line is also limited to three feet, with an extra five-foot setback where there is a vehicle opening. These low front-yard limits exist to maintain sight-line visibility near streets and driveways. Heights and exemptions vary by zoning district, so verify your parcel's zone with the Planning Department before building.
Building a front-yard or corner-side-yard fence taller than three feet, or any fence over seven feet without a permit, can trigger a zoning code enforcement case requiring the fence to be lowered or removed. Persistent visibility obstructions near intersections may also be abated as hazards.
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