Santa Cruz, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Santa Cruz Municipal Code Section 24.12.160 (Fencing and Screening), as amended by City of Santa Cruz Ordinance No. 2022-19, Section 43, sets the city's height limits. Within the required front and exterior side yard setbacks (established by Title 24 or Chapter 18.04) a fence may not exceed three feet six inches from finished grade. In the exterior side yard outside the front setback or in line with the main building frontage, a fence set back a minimum of three feet from the exterior side property line may reach six feet; if it is less than three feet from the side property line or within the front setback, it is capped at three feet six inches. On the remainder of the lot (interior side and rear), fences may reach eight feet, but any portion above six feet must consist of lattice or similar material that is at least fifty percent open. A separate rule limits fences along an alley or the rail trail associated with an Accessory Dwelling Unit to three feet six inches unless a conditional fence permit is approved. A gate, trellis, or entry feature along a street-adjacent property line may exceed these limits up to ten feet wide and ten feet tall, limited to one per street frontage. Fences exceeding these limits require a conditional fence permit under Chapter 24.08, Part 7 (SCMC 24.08.600-630).