Petaluma, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

The principal fence-height ordinance for unincorporated Sonoma County is Sec. 26-88-030 of the Sonoma County Zoning Code (Chapter 26, Article 88: General Exceptions and Special Use Standards - subsection on General Height Regulations and Exceptions). The Permit Sonoma fence permitting page and PJR-133 'Fence Guidelines' summarize the rules. In residential and recreation/visitor-serving zoning districts (AR Agricultural Residential, RR Rural Residential, R1 Low Density Residential, R2 Medium Density Residential, R3 High Density Residential, and K Recreation and Visitor-Serving Commercial), fences may not exceed 3 feet in height within the required front-yard setback and within 15 feet of a street corner (the 'visibility triangle'), and 6 feet in height within the side and rear yard setbacks. Within the buildable area of the parcel (outside any required setback), there is no fence height limit, though structures over 7 feet (solid) or 10 feet (any) require a building permit. In agricultural and resource districts - LEA Land Extensive Agriculture, LIA Land Intensive Agriculture, DA Diverse Agriculture, and RRD Resources and Rural Development - there are no setback or height restrictions for fences. The same is true in industrial and commercial districts: CO Commercial Office, LC Limited Commercial, C1 Neighborhood Commercial, C2 General Commercial, C3 Service Commercial, CR Recreation and Visitor-Serving Commercial, AS Administrative and Professional Services, MP Industrial Park, M1 Limited Industrial, M2 Heavy Industrial, and M3 Mineral Resources. All fences in all zones must be at least 6 inches outside any public right-of-way or recorded easement. Heights above the setback limits may be authorized by Minor Use Permit issued by Permit Sonoma's Planning Division under Sec. 26-92 (Use Permits). The Scenic Resources (SR), Visitor Open Highway (VOH), Russian River Recreation and Visitor-Serving (RR-RV), and Coastal (CC) combining districts impose additional fence siting, materials, and color requirements: along designated scenic corridors (Highway 1 from Bodega Bay to Gualala, Highway 12 through Sonoma Valley, the Russian River corridor, Highway 116, Highway 121, Highway 128) fences may need to use natural materials, earth-tone colors, and may have lower visible heights along the road frontage to preserve viewsheds. Coastal Zone parcels (CC suffix) are subject to Chapter 26C of the County Code and may require a Coastal Development Permit for fences in shoreline areas, public-access easement corridors, or designated environmentally sensitive habitat areas. Fences over 6 feet that are not 'agricultural fencing' (e.g., split-rail, post-and-wire, deer-resistant ag fencing in LEA/LIA/DA/RRD - which may be up to 8 feet) generally require Administrative Design Review or Design Review Committee approval, particularly in the SR combining district. Fences exceeding 7 feet in height composed of solid wood, concrete, metal, or masonry, and any fence exceeding 10 feet regardless of material, require a building permit under California Building Code Sec. R105.2 as adopted in Chapter 7 (Building Regulations). 'Living fences' (hedges, plant screens) are generally not subject to the height limits but may be regulated under Sec. 26-66 (Riparian Corridor) and Sec. 26-88-070 (Defensible Space and Fire-Safe Landscaping) if they create wildfire hazard. After the 2017 Tubbs Fire, 2019 Kincade Fire, and 2020 Glass Fire, Permit Sonoma and CAL FIRE have emphasized non-combustible fence sections within 5 feet of structures and removal of wooden fences that act as fire ladders to homes during ember storms (Zone 0 defensible space standards adopted by the State Board of Forestry under SB 3074 and effective January 1, 2025).