Sonoma, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

030, General height limitations, sets Table 4-3, the City of Sonoma's baseline fence, hedge and wall height table (current through Ordinance 13-2025, December 3, 2025). Rear and interior setbacks allow fences up to 7 feet, with a footnote permitting an additional foot to a maximum of 8 feet, provided all fencing material above 7 feet is open grillwork, latticework, or a similar open design that lets light and air pass through at least 40 percent of the material. 040 can authorize additional height. The tightest limit applies at intersections of streets, alleys, and driveways within traffic safety sight areas: a solid fence is capped at 30 inches, but a fence built from material that is at least 75 percent open, such as lattice, can reach the normally allowed height for that location instead.

040. 030(B)-(C), but only after finding the fence is compatible with the site and surrounding neighborhood, properly oriented and located, a planned architectural feature that will not dominate or overwhelm the surroundings, and soundly constructed so it creates no safety hazard. 050 from the finished grade at the base of the fence on the higher of two adjoining parcels when the grade difference is under 2 feet, or as determined by the building official when the difference is 2 feet or more; a variation of up to 6 inches is allowed for topography averaging.