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

Monterey County's zoning, not the City of Monterey, controls fences on unincorporated parcels. The County's Building & Planning Services FAQ states the general rule plainly: in all zoning districts a fence "may not be more than six feet high unless it meets the setback requirements for an accessory structure (non-habitable)." That ties taller fences to the same setback a small detached structure would need in your district. The applicable rules are in Title 21 (inland) for most of the county and Title 21's coastal counterpart, Title 20, inside the Coastal Zone. The County FAQ also notes a fence cannot encroach on a utility or road easement or right-of-way, mirroring the height-and-setback-exception chapters (21.62 inland / 20.62 coastal), which exempt fences from some encroachment limits but not easements. Because actual permitted height depends on where the fence sits relative to required yards, the County advises contacting HCD Planning. Properties in a Design Control District also need a separate Design Approval before building a fence, even one under six feet.