Union City, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Rear/interior side yard
- 6 ft max (7.5 ft with lattice)
- Front/street-side yard
- 3 ft max
- Height exception
- 8 ft near arterials, rail, schools
- Multifamily open space
- 8 ft max at cluster ends
Summary
Union City limits residential fences to six feet in rear and interior side yards, three feet in front and street-side yards, with an eight-foot exception near flood channels, rail lines, schools, and major arterials.
In the required rear and interior side yards the maximum height shall be six feet as measured above the surface of the ground, except that an additional one and one-half foot of lattice may be added above a six-foot high fence.
2. Height Exception. Fences a maximum of eight feet in height may be allowed in the required rear yard or interior side yards when the yard abuts a flood control channel, railroad, park, licensed residential care or health facility, school, child care center, commercial use, industrial use or major arterials, including Alvarado-Niles Road, Dyer Street, Decoto Road, Whipple Road, Union City Boulevard, Mission Boulevard, Alvarado Boulevard and Lowry Road. Soundwalls are exempted from height restrictions when they are part of a site development review approval of a subdivision. The owner of the lot on which an eight foot fence is constructed in accordance with this subsection shall reduce the fence height to six feet within 30 calendar days of the removal, relocation, or the termination of operations of the adjacent facility or use. When an eight foot fence adjoins a fence of a lower height at any point other than at the intersection of two or more lot lines, the eight foot fence shall be designed to step or slope down to the height of the adjoining fence.
3. When located in the front yard, the maximum height shall be three feet above the surface of the ground.
4.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4940544; v16 updated 2026-06-23).
Full Breakdown
Under Union City Municipal Code Section 18.32.040, fences and hedges in residential districts top out at six feet in the required rear and interior side yards, plus up to one and a half feet of lattice on top. Front-yard fences are capped at three feet, and corner-lot exterior side yards are limited to three feet unless the fence sits at least 10 feet from the side street line and 35 feet from the front line. Fences may reach eight feet where the yard backs onto a flood channel, railroad, park, school, care facility, or a listed major arterial, but must step down to six feet within 30 days after the adjacent use ends.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding these height caps without qualifying for an exception is a zoning violation, generally cited as an infraction under Section 1.16.020; repeat violations of the same fence rule can be charged as a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard privacy fence be in Union City?
Can I build a taller privacy fence if my yard backs onto a busy street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union City
How Union City compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Union City to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle height limits.