Calaveras County, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Visual clearance triangle
- Two 35-foot legs along each right-of-way or driveway
- Prohibited height range
- 2 feet 6 inches to 8 feet above roadway
- Applies to
- Corner parcels and parcels abutting a driveway or easement
- Governing section
- Calaveras County Code § 17.16.140
- Violation
- Public nuisance and infraction under §§ 17.41.040, 17.41.050
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only; Angels Camp has its own code
Summary
Calaveras County caps fence, wall, and hedge height inside sight-triangle zones at corner lots and driveway entrances under County Code § 17.16.140. Any obstruction taller than two feet six inches and under eight feet is banned within a 35-foot visual clearance triangle, protecting drivers' sightlines at intersections and driveways throughout the unincorporated county, from San Andreas to Copperopolis.
1.Corner Parcels. On corner parcels, the visual clearance area shall consist of a triangle having two sides thirty-five feet long, running along each right of way or roadway, said length beginning at their intersection, and the third side formed by a straight line connecting the two ends. ... 3.Obstructions in Visual Clearance Area. It is unlawful to install or maintain any view obstructing structure, fence, wall, hedge, or other obstacle between two feet, six inches and eight feet above the nearest roadway surface or right of way easement within the required visual clearance area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
The county's General Site Regulations chapter sets the only fence-height rule that applies countywide outside Angels Camp, the county's sole incorporated city. 140 governs 'Visibility at Intersections and Driveways' and applies to two situations: corner parcels, and any parcel that contains or abuts a right-of-way easement or driveway. On a corner parcel, the required visual clearance area is a triangle with two 35-foot legs running along each intersecting right of way or roadway, closed by a straight line connecting their ends. The same 35-foot triangle geometry applies where a driveway or easement meets a roadway.
3 makes it unlawful to install or maintain any view-obstructing structure, fence, wall, hedge, or other obstacle between two feet six inches and eight feet above the nearest roadway or right-of-way surface. A fence lower than 2'6" is not restricted by this section. 140 is the operative height limit a property owner in unincorporated Calaveras County will run into. 080's setback-encroachment rules for fences and Title 15's building code requirements before installing a wall or fence near a shared property line.
Violations & Fines
A fence, wall, or hedge maintained in violation of § 17.16.140 is unlawful under the zoning code's general enforcement chapter. Under § 17.41.040(C), any structure maintained contrary to the zoning code is declared a public nuisance, and under § 17.41.050 the violation is an infraction subject to civil and administrative penalties, including the abatement and cost-recovery procedures of County Code Chapter 8.06. The county may also pursue injunctive or other civil remedies against the property owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a fence at a corner lot in Calaveras County?
Does the visibility rule apply to my driveway, or only street corners?
Is there a general maximum fence height for Calaveras County residential lots?
What happens if I don't trim or lower an obstructing fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Calaveras County
How Calaveras County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Calaveras County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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