Madera, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front Yard
- 3 ft max
- Side/Rear Yard
- 6 ft max
- Corner Lot Exception
- 6 ft with Director approval (50' lot, 80' ROW)
- Code Section
- Madera §10-3.506
Summary
Madera Code §10-3.506 caps fence height at 3 feet in any front or street-side yard setback and 6 feet in rear/interior side yards (exclusive of front setback). Exterior side yards allow 6 feet within 10 feet of the property line. A 6-foot fence may be approved on the street-side yard of a 50-foot corner lot in R Residential Zone with Director/Engineer approval.
(a) A maximum height of three (3') feet is permitted in any front or street side yard setback area. (b) Subject to the approval of the Community Development Director/City Engineer, a six (6') foot fence may be erected on the street side yard property line of any fifty (50') foot wide corner lot located in the R. Residential Zone, which is situated adjacent to an eighty (80') foot City right-of-way designated as a Local Street on the General Plan. (c) A maximum height of six (6') feet is permitted in any rear or interior side yard exclusive of the front setback area. (d) A maximum height of six (6') feet is allowed to within ten (10') feet of any exterior side property line, exclusive of the front setback.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2024 S-50: Current through Ordinance 1010 C.S., passed 6-5-24).
Full Breakdown
Section 10-3.506 (R; Fences, Walls, and Hedges) sets the height schedule for residential fencing. (a) A maximum height of 3 feet is permitted in any front or street-side yard setback area. (b) Subject to approval of the Community Development Director / City Engineer, a 6-foot fence may be erected on the street-side yard property line of any 50-foot-wide corner lot in the R Residential Zone adjacent to an 80-foot City right-of-way designated a Local Street on the General Plan. (c) A maximum height of 6 feet is permitted in any rear or interior side yard exclusive of the front setback area. (d) A maximum height of 6 feet is allowed to within 10 feet of any exterior side property line, exclusive of the front setback. Fence material, sight-triangle visibility at intersections (§10-3.412), and pool-safety enclosures (CBC) may add further constraints.
Violations & Fines
Building Division code-enforcement citations escalating $100 / $200 / $500 under Title I. Construction without a permit triggers Stop-Work and required removal or modification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my front-yard fence be in Madera?
Can I get a 6-foot fence on a corner lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madera
How Madera compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Madera to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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