Santa Rosa, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front-yard setback
- 36 inches max
- Exterior side (street-side) setback
- 36 inches max
- Interior side / rear-yard setback
- 6 feet (8 ft with lattice)
- Outside required setback
- 6 feet (8 ft with lattice)
- Building Permit threshold
- Any fence over 7 feet
- Code section
- SRCC Section 20-30.060, Table 3-1
Summary
Santa Rosa Zoning Code Section 20-30.060 caps residential fences at 36 inches within the front-yard or exterior-side setback, and 6 feet within an interior-side or rear-yard setback. A 6-foot fence with 2 feet of lattice (8 feet total) is allowed by right outside the front/street-side setback, but any fence over 7 feet requires a Building Permit.
C. Height limits. A fence in a residential zoning district is subject to the following restrictions: 1. Single family dwelling shall not exceed the height limits shown in Table 3-1, unless authorized in compliance with Subsection D of this section (Additional height with Minor Director Conditional Use Permit approval). See also Figure 3-4. 2. Multifamily dwelling and non-residential properties will require Design Review approval and are not subject to the height limits shown in Table 3-1. TABLE 3-1 MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF FENCES: Within required front yard setback - 36 inches; Within interior side or rear yard setback - 6 feet; Within exterior side setback - 36 inches; Within a vision triangle (see Section 20-30.070.E) - No fence allowed, except as provided by Section 20-30.070.E (Vision Triangles); Outside of a required setback - 6 feet. Note (2): A six-foot fence with two feet of lattice is allowed by right in an interior side or rear yard setback, and outside of a required front or street side setback (see Figure 3-5); provided that any fence exceeding seven feet in height requires a Building Permit.
Full Breakdown
Under Santa Rosa City Code Section 20-30.060.C and Table 3-1, the maximum height of fences for a single-family dwelling is 36 inches within a required front-yard setback, 36 inches within an exterior side setback (street-side on a corner lot), and 6 feet within an interior side or rear-yard setback. Outside any required setback the limit is also 6 feet. Footnote (2) of Table 3-1 expressly permits 'a six-foot fence with two feet of lattice...by right in an interior side or rear yard setback, and outside of a required front or street side setback,' provided any fence exceeding seven feet has a Building Permit. Fences exceeding the table limits require Minor Director Conditional Use Permit approval under Subsection D, except within a required vision triangle. Multifamily and non-residential properties are exempted from Table 3-1 and instead require Design Review approval.
Violations & Fines
Building a fence taller than Table 3-1 limits without a Minor Director Conditional Use Permit (for heights in residential setbacks) or without a Building Permit (for any fence over 7 feet) is a Zoning Code violation. Santa Rosa Code Enforcement may issue a notice of violation, require removal or height reduction, and pursue administrative citations under City Code Chapter 1-28. Fences within a vision triangle that obstruct visibility must be removed regardless of permit status.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Santa Rosa?
Why is my front-yard fence limited to 36 inches?
Can I exceed the height limits with a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
How Santa Rosa compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Rosa to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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