Rancho Cordova, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard limit
- 3 feet, or 5 feet if set back 3 feet
- Rear/side yard limit
- 7 feet, interior side and street side
- Intersection limit
- 30 inches in the clear visibility area
- Above 7 feet
- Must be 50% transparent, needs design review
- Governing section
- RCMC § 23.731.040, Table 23.731-1
Summary
Rancho Cordova caps front-yard fences at three feet and rear, interior-side and street-side yard fences at seven feet under RCMC § 23.731.040's Table 23.731-1, dropping to just 30 inches within the clear-visibility triangle at street and driveway intersections. A front fence can reach five feet if it sits at least three feet back from the property line and stays at least half open.
Each fence, wall, and screen shall comply with height limits and locations shown in Table 23.731-1 (Maximum Height of Fences, Walls, and Screening in Required Yard Area). ... Required front yard area: 3 feet. ... Required rear and interior side yard area (along rear and interior property lines): 7 feet. ... Required street side yard area: 7 feet. ... At intersections of streets, alleys, and driveways within the clear visibility area: ... 30 inches. ... Maximum height for fences may be increased by designated approval authority as part of design review; provided, that the portion of the fence above seven feet is at least 50 percent transparent. ... The height of the front yard fence may be increased to five feet when the fence is located a minimum setback of three feet from the property line and remains visually open and transparent.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
040, sets four separate height ceilings depending on where the fence sits on the lot. A fence in the required front yard area is capped at three feet unless it is set back at least three feet from the property line and built open and transparent (picket, open slats, open wrought iron), in which case it can rise to five feet; fences three feet or less can sit right on the property line. Rear and interior side yard fences, and street side yard fences, are both allowed up to seven feet, and a designated approval authority can approve going higher during design review as long as everything above seven feet is at least 50 percent transparent.
1104 RCMC, nothing taller than 30 inches is allowed, protecting sightlines for drivers and cyclists. 060 as the vertical distance from finished grade to the top of the fence material, and grade cannot be artificially raised to gain height. 060(B) layers on an additional rule: the retaining wall portion is capped at six feet and the fence above it at seven feet, and if either is taller the fence must be pulled back three feet from the wall with landscaping in between.
Violations & Fines
A fence built above these height limits without the design-review transparency exception is a zoning violation under RCMC § 23.173.060, enforced as a public nuisance with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate infraction. The city can require the fence be cut down, rebuilt with 50 percent transparency above seven feet, or moved out of the clear visibility triangle at an intersection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my front yard fence be in Rancho Cordova?
What is the height limit near a street corner?
Can I build a fence taller than seven feet in my backyard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
How Rancho Cordova compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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