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

Riverside County Ordinance 348 sets residential fence limits of 42 inches (3.5 feet) in the required front yard and 6 feet elsewhere, measured from the lower adjacent grade. On corner lots a sight-distance triangle (typically 25 feet from the intersection) limits fence and landscaping height to about 36 inches to preserve driver visibility. Fences over 6 feet, and retaining walls over 3 feet, require a building permit from Riverside County Building and Safety, along with engineering calculations where required by the California Building Code. In agricultural zones (A-1, A-2, A-P), fences up to 6 feet are allowed without a permit; taller fences for livestock screening or privacy may require review. In scenic highway corridors (SR-74, SR-243, SR-79) and specific-plan communities, additional architectural and height restrictions apply. Barbed wire is permitted in agricultural zones and on non-residential parcels but prohibited on most residential parcels under 1 acre. Electric fences are allowed only for livestock control in agricultural zones. Pool barriers have separate height rules under the California Building Code (see pool-barriers).