Santa Cruz, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front / exterior side setback max
- 3 ft 6 in
- Exterior side (set back 3+ ft) max
- 6 ft
- Interior side / rear max
- 8 ft (above 6 ft must be 50% open)
- Gate / trellis / entry feature
- Up to 10 ft tall x 10 ft wide, one per street frontage
- Code Section
- SCMC 24.12.160
Summary
Santa Cruz limits fences to three feet six inches within the front and exterior side yard setbacks, six feet in the exterior side yard when set back at least three feet, and eight feet elsewhere (the portion above six feet must be at least 50 percent open lattice). Anything taller requires a conditional fence permit.
24.12.160 FENCING AND SCREENING. a. Height Limitations. No person shall erect upon any private property in the city any fence, or structure in the nature of a fence, exceeding the following height limitations: (1) Within the required front and exterior side yard setback areas... fences shall not exceed a height of three feet, six inches from finished grade, except as provided in Chapter 24.08, Part 7; ... (3) On any portion of the property outside of the required front and exterior side yard setbacks, fences shall not exceed a height of eight feet from finished grade, with any portion of the fence above six feet consisting of lattice or other similar material that is at least 50% open... This maximum fence height does not apply to fences along an alley or the rail trail associated with an Accessory Dwelling Unit, where fences are limited to three feet, six inches along the alley or rail trail unless a conditional fence permit is approved for greater height.
Full Breakdown
160 (Fencing and Screening), as amended by City of Santa Cruz Ordinance No. 2022-19, Section 43, sets the city's height limits. 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. 600-630).
Violations & Fines
Over-height fences built without a conditional fence permit are enforced by the city Planning and Community Development Department as zoning violations under Title 24. Typical resolution is a permit application, modification, or removal; unresolved violations are subject to the city's administrative citation and code-enforcement process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Santa Cruz?
Why is my front fence limited to three and a half feet?
Can I build a taller fence than the code allows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Cruz
How Santa Cruz compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Cruz to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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