Santa Clara County, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Urban front-yard limit
- 3 ft within 20 ft strip
- Urban elsewhere limit
- 8 ft
- Rural districts
- 6 ft / 8 ft zones
- Corner lots
- 3 ft in sight triangle
- Applies to
- unincorporated area only
Summary
Fences in unincorporated Santa Clara County's urban residential districts are capped at 3 feet within 20 feet of the front lot line and 8 feet elsewhere, with tighter limits at corner-lot sight triangles.
Fences or hedges shall not exceed three feet in height within any portion of a lot within 20 feet of the front lot line (or edge of front right-of-way). Fences shall not exceed eight feet in height within any other portion of a lot... On corner lots, fences or hedges along the exterior side lot line...may be as tall as eight feet, except that a three-foot height limitation shall apply within the 40-foot sight clearance triangle defined by Section B17-69 of the County Ordinance Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
In R1, R1E, R2, R1S, RHS and urban-service A1 districts, fences and hedges cannot exceed 3 feet within 20 feet of the front lot line, and cannot exceed 8 feet elsewhere (the cap doesn't apply to hedges). Corner lots get an 8-foot allowance along the exterior side line, except a 3-foot cap applies inside the 40-foot sight-clearance triangle set by County Ordinance Code § B17-69, and inside a 20-foot triangle where a corner lot's rear abuts a key lot's yards. Rural districts (A, AR, HS, RR, RS, non-urban A1) shift to 6 feet within 20 feet of the right-of-way and 8 feet beyond. Taller fences can qualify for design review. Applies to the unincorporated area only, not the 15 cities.
Violations & Fines
A fence built over the applicable height cap, or one blocking the sight-clearance triangle on a corner lot, is a zoning violation the county can require cut down or removed as a safety hazard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my fence be in unincorporated Santa Clara County?
Are hedges treated the same as fences?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
How Santa Clara County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.