Merced, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Exterior yard max
- 4 feet
- All other locations
- 7 feet
- Driveway vision triangle
- 2.5 feet
- Non-solid fence with permit
- up to 6 feet
- Hedge exemption
- any height, 15+ ft from line
- Governing section
- MMC 20.30.020(A)
Summary
Merced caps fences, walls and hedges at 4 feet in required exterior yards and 7 feet everywhere else on residential lots, with a 2.5-foot cap inside driveway and corner vision triangles. Non-solid fences like wrought iron or chain link can reach 6 feet with a minor use permit.
A.Residential Zoning Districts.1.Basic Standards. Fences, walls, and hedges in residential zoning districts shall comply with the standards in Table 20.30-1 (Fence Height in Residential Zoning Districts)... Table 20.30-1 Fence Height in Residential Zoning Districts Location Maximum Height Within required exterior yards 4 feet [1] Within a driveway vision triangle 2.5 feet [2] Within a corner vision triangle See Section 20.30.040 (Vision Triangles) All other locations [3] 7 feet [3] Corner Lot Exterior Yards [4] 7 feet [4]
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 - 1-26).
Full Breakdown
5 feet inside a driveway vision triangle, and 7 feet in "all other locations" and in corner-lot exterior yards. 010(A); if grade differs on either side, the measurement runs from the higher side to the highest point of the fence. Ornamental features that are 50 percent or more opaque count toward the height total, and if a fence sits atop a wall the full combined height is measured from the base of the wall. 30-1 lets non-solid fences, wrought iron, chain link, or picket that stay mostly transparent, rise to a maximum of 6 feet with a minor use permit, and multi-family zones can go to 8 feet the same way.
5 feet unless the district has no required exterior yard. Reversed corner lots can get a minor use permit for fences up to 7 feet in the exterior side yard, but the fence cannot encroach the first 20 feet of the property-line triangle at the corner. Hedges of any height are allowed in exterior yards only if planted at least 15 feet back from the property line.
Violations & Fines
Fences built over these height caps, or placed inside a vision triangle without the code's setback, are code violations enforced by the development services department; if unresolved they become a public nuisance the city can order abated under Municipal Code Section 1.12.080, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. General code violations are punishable under Section 1.12.020 as a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and/or one year in county jail) or, if charged as an infraction, escalating fines of $150, $300, then $500 for repeat offenses within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Merced?
Can I build a 6-foot chain link fence in my front yard?
How is fence height measured on a sloped lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Merced
How Merced compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Merced to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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