Alameda County, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Corner-lot sightline limit
- 2 ft within 30 ft of intersection
- Front yard limit
- 4 feet, most locations
- A/R district general limit
- 6 feet
- Governs
- Unincorporated Alameda County only
Summary
Unincorporated Alameda County caps fence, wall and hedge height by location, two feet near a corner-lot intersection, four feet in most front yards, and six feet elsewhere in A and R districts, under the county zoning code.
The maximum permitted height of fences, walls and hedges, except as otherwise provided in Sections 17.52.420 and 17.52.440 shall be as follows:
A.When located in a required yard on a corner lot and within thirty (30) feet of the intersection of the street lot lines or of the projections of such lines: Two feet, measured upward from the center line grade of the street opposite thereto;B.When located in a required rear or street side yard of a corner lot and within twenty (20) feet of the corner common to such a lot and a key lot at the rear: Four feet;C.When located in a required front yard other than as specified in subsection A of this section: Four feet;D.When located in any A or R district other than as specified hereinabove six feet;E.When located in any C or M district and within five feet of the boundary of any A or R district: Six feet high. (Prior gen. code § 8-60.55)
Full Breakdown
Alameda County Code Section 17.52.430 sets the county's fence-height ladder for unincorporated R and A districts such as Castro Valley, San Lorenzo and Ashland. Within thirty feet of a corner-lot street intersection the limit drops to two feet, measured from the street center-line grade, for sightlines. A rear or street-side yard on a corner lot within twenty feet of a key lot's rear corner is capped at four feet, as is most other front-yard fencing. Elsewhere in an A or R district the cap is six feet, and commercial parcels within five feet of an A or R boundary are capped at six feet too. None of this applies inside Oakland, Berkeley or the county's other cities.
Violations & Fines
A fence built taller than the applicable limit is a zoning violation; the county can require it lowered or removed and can cite the property owner under the code's enforcement provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my front-yard fence be in unincorporated Alameda County?
What's the fence limit elsewhere on an A or R district lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alameda County
How Alameda County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Alameda County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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