Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 12-27 limits fences to 3 feet immediately behind the public utility easement (front yard), and 6 feet within required side and rear yards. A 6-foot wall is allowed in the front/interior side yard only if set back 10 feet from the back of sidewalk and is no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to corner-cutback rules.
Fence heights in Santa Maria are regulated under Chapter 12-27 (Accessory Structures) of the Santa Maria Municipal Code, administered by the Community Development Department. Section 12-27.02 (Fences, Walls and Hedges) caps fencing at 3 feet in height immediately behind the public utility easement (the area between the sidewalk and the front building setback). Walls up to 6 feet are allowed along interior side lot lines and in the front yard only if set back 10 feet or more from the back of sidewalk or front property line and limited to 1/3 of the parcel width — and then only subject to the corner cutback requirements in Section 12-27.03. Fences and walls erected within required side yards or rear yards shall not exceed 6 feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator. Heights are measured from the adjacent natural grade. California Residential Code R105.2 (adopted in SMMC Chapter 9-08) further exempts wood fences not over 7 feet high from a building permit, but the zoning height limits in Chapter 12-27 still apply.
Non-compliant fences are enforced by the Community Development Department's Code Enforcement and Planning Divisions. Owners may receive a courtesy notice followed by a Notice of Violation under SMMC Title 1, with administrative fines and required removal or modification of the fence. Continuing violations can escalate to administrative citations and abatement at the owner's expense.
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