Sacramento County, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted
- wood, chain link, stone, masonry, wrought iron
- Banned
- thin plywood, particle board, tarp, visqueen
- Applies to
- front, street-side, and alley-facing fences
- Discretion
- Planning Director can approve other materials
Summary
Sacramento County zoning code sets which materials are allowed for fences facing the front yard, street side yard, or an alley, and bans plywood, particle board, tarps, and scrap materials.
Permitted Materials. A fence may be constructed of permanent material, such as wood, chain link, stone, rock, concrete block, masonry brick, brick, decorative wrought iron or other material approved by the Planning Director.
Prohibited Materials. Fencing materials prohibited include, but are not limited to, the following. This Section shall only apply to fences located in the front yard, street side yard, and fences abutting any alley or other public right-of-way.
Cast-off, secondhand, or other items not originally intended to be used for constructing or maintaining a fence. Plywood less than five-eighths inches thick, plywood not of a grade approved the Planning Director, particle board, paper, and visqueen plastic, plastic tarp, cloth, or similar material.
The use of barbed wire, concertina wire or electric fencing shall require a Minor Use Permit, unless such fencing is located in the Agricultural, M-1, or M-2 zoning districts, and located adjacent to property in either the agricultural or industrial zoning district, in which case its use shall be permitted, subject to the standards set forth in Section 3.9.3.X. The use of barbed wire and electric fencing is permitted in the AR-2, AR-5 and AR-10 zones if used for the keeping of animals.
Maintenance. All fences shall be properly maintained so as not to create a hazard, public nuisance, or blight.
Full Breakdown
Under Zoning Code Section 5.2.5.A, fences in Sacramento County's unincorporated area may be built of wood, chain link, stone, rock, concrete block, masonry brick, brick, decorative wrought iron, or another material the Planning Director approves. For fences in the front yard, street-side yard, or along an alley or public right-of-way, the county bans cast-off or secondhand items never intended for fencing, plywood under five-eighths inch thick or an unapproved grade, particle board, paper, visqueen plastic, plastic tarp, and cloth.
Violations & Fines
Fences built with prohibited materials in a front, street-side, or alley-facing yard can be red-tagged by code enforcement and must be removed or rebuilt with a compliant material at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chain link for my Sacramento County front fence?
Is plywood allowed for a front-yard fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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