Vallejo, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard max
- 3 ft (4 ft with traffic engineer OK)
- Side/rear yard max
- 6 ft (7 ft with lattice extension)
- Sight-distance triangle
- No fence permitted
- Front yard Exception ceiling
- 5 ft maximum
- Historic district front cap
- 3 ft 6 in
- Open/view-through fences
- Up to 6 ft allowed
- Penalty
- $100-$1,000 fine, Sec. 1.12.010
Summary
Vallejo caps residential fences at 3 feet in the required front yard and 6 feet in required side and rear yards, with a 1-foot lattice extension allowed up to 7 feet. Fences are barred entirely inside the sight-distance triangle. Table 16.505-A under Section 16.505.04 sets the limits.
A.Maximum height in Residential Zoning Districts. The height of fences in residential zoning districts shall be limited by location as specified below in Table 16.505-A. Required front yard: 3 feet, maximum height exception 4 feet with the Traffic Engineer's approval through a Zoning Compliance Review, the maximum height allowed with an Exception Permit is 5 feet. Required side yard: 6 feet, a one-foot extension up to 7 feet with a decorative finish such as lattice is allowed. Required rear yard: 6 feet, a one-foot extension up to 7 feet with a decorative finish such as lattice is allowed. Within sight distance triangle: Not permitted.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Update 12 - 25).
Full Breakdown
505-A. In the required front yard, the maximum basic height is 3 feet, extendable to 4 feet only with the traffic engineer's approval through zoning compliance review, and to a maximum of 5 feet with an Exception Permit. In the required side yard, the basic maximum is 6 feet, with a 1-foot decorative extension such as lattice allowed up to 7 feet; an Exception Permit can push it further only if both abutting residential structures have at least 5-foot side yard setbacks, or if the lot abuts a mixed-use, commercial or industrial use.
The required rear yard follows the same 6-foot basic/7-foot lattice pattern, with an Exception Permit increase allowed only where the rear yard abuts an interior side yard. 11, no fence is permitted at any height, per the table's 'Not permitted' entry. 608 only after finding the fence won't create or worsen a safety hazard, is compatible with the site and surrounding properties, and permits direct vision through at least 80 percent of any one-square-foot segment of vertical fence surface, excluding posts and pilasters. 2, with any increase requiring sign-off from the Architectural Heritage and Landmarks Commission secretary.
Violations & Fines
A fence built above these height limits without the required Exception Permit is treated as a zoning violation subject to Vallejo's general penalty, Section 1.12.010: an infraction ($100-$500 fine) or misdemeanor ($500-$1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both), with the city able to order the fence lowered or removed and each day of noncompliance charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my front yard fence be in Vallejo?
Can I build a 7-foot fence in my backyard?
Are there height limits near street corners?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vallejo
How Vallejo compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Vallejo to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Solano County handle height limits.