Fresno, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard max
- 3 ft (4 ft if 80% open wrought iron/tubular steel)
- Interior side/rear/street-side max
- 6 ft
- Overall maximum
- 7 ft
- Fence on retaining wall (combined)
- Up to 7 ft from lower side (Director approval)
- Code Section
- FMC 15-2006
Summary
Fresno limits fences in the required front yard to 3 feet (4 feet if 80% open wrought iron/tubular steel), allows up to 6 feet in interior side, rear, and street-side yards, and caps overall fence height at 7 feet, all governed by Fresno Municipal Code Section 15-2006.
Fences can be six feet high once it's past the front yard setback, see the zoning RE table to the right. In RS-1 established neighborhoods, use the prevailing front yard setback. When there is a natural grade difference between a parcel and a sidewalk or another parcel, a retaining wall/fence combination can go up to seven feet high, measured from the lower side. Department approval is required. If you have a corner house, you'll need to provide a 3' high visibility triangle.
Full Breakdown
Fresno Municipal Code (Citywide Development Code) Section 15-2006, Fences, Walls, and Hedges, sets the height rules. Within any required front yard setback, fences are limited to 3 feet in height, except a fence up to 4 feet may be installed if it is wrought iron or tubular steel and is open a minimum of 80 percent (no more than 20 percent opaque) to allow the passage of light and air; on parcels within the Pinedale Neighborhood Plan area a front-yard fence may be up to 4 feet regardless of material.
Fences and walls up to 6 feet may enclose private patios and interior side and rear yards, and up to 6 feet within a required street-side yard setback. Outside the required front yard and street-side yards, the maximum fence height is 7 feet. Where a fence sits on top of a retaining wall and a 6-foot maximum normally applies, the Director may allow a combined retaining wall and fence height up to 7 feet, measured from the lower side; in no case shall the combination exceed 7 feet from the lower side unless a deviation is granted. All fences must also satisfy the intersection-visibility (corner cut-off / sight triangle) requirements of Section 15-2018.
Violations & Fines
Over-height fences are enforced by the City of Fresno Code Enforcement Division as zoning violations of Section 15-2006. Typical resolution is a notice of violation requiring the fence be lowered or removed; unresolved violations can lead to administrative citations and abatement at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my back yard fence be in Fresno?
Why is my front yard fence limited to 3 feet?
Can I put a fence on top of a retaining wall?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno
How Fresno compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fresno County handle height limits.