Sonoma County, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed
- Wood, naturalistic composite wood, stone/masonry, stucco/plaster
- Allowed metal
- Woven metal/wire (chain link, hog wire), non-reflective metal
- Prohibited
- Glass, bunker blocks, exposed CMUs, razor wire, reflective metal, barbed wire
- Agricultural exception
- Barbed wire & utilitarian materials allowed on qualifying AR/RR ag fences
- Exceptions
- Non-conforming materials need Design Review Committee approval
- Applies to
- AR, RR, R1, R2, R3 and K districts
Summary
Under the 2025 objective standards, residential and K-district fences in unincorporated Sonoma County must use allowed materials such as wood, naturalistic composite wood, stone/masonry, stucco, and non-reflective woven metal or wire. Glass, exposed bunker blocks, razor wire, reflective metal, and barbed wire are prohibited (except qualifying agricultural fences).
Permitted materials: wood, composite wood, stone/masonry, stucco/plaster, woven metal (chain link, hog wire), non-reflective metal, concrete masonry units (if covered). Prohibited materials: glass, bunker blocks, exposed concrete masonry units, razor wire, reflective metal finishes, barbed wire.
Full Breakdown
Permit Sonoma's PJR-133 Fence Guidelines, reflecting the objective standards adopted in Ordinance No. 6547 (File ORD25-0006, December 2025), list the allowed and prohibited fence materials in residential and K zoning districts of the unincorporated county. Allowed materials include wood; composite wood that shows naturalistic graining and wood coloring; stone or masonry; stucco or plaster; woven metal or wire such as chain link or hog wire; non-reflective metal finishes; and concrete masonry units (CMUs) when finished with an allowed covering. Prohibited materials include glass, bunker blocks, exposed (unfinished) CMUs, razor wire, reflective metal finishes, and barbed wire.
Barbed wire and certain utilitarian materials are allowed on qualifying agricultural fences in AR and RR districts, where the 2025 ordinance expanded agricultural exemptions; qualifying agricultural fences (split-rail, pipe, post-and-wire) may be up to 8 feet. Fences that propose materials outside the allowed list, or that need exceptions to the material standards, require Design Review Committee approval. These material rules apply to the AR, RR, R1, R2, R3 and K districts; agricultural and resource zones and commercial/industrial zones are generally not subject to the residential material/height restrictions. Confirm your zoning district and any combining-district overlays with Permit Sonoma before purchasing materials.
Violations & Fines
Installing a prohibited material - such as barbed wire, razor wire, glass, exposed bunker blocks, or reflective metal - on a non-agricultural residential fence, or using non-conforming materials without design-review approval, can result in a code-enforcement notice, fines, and an order to replace or remove the fence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is barbed wire allowed on fences in unincorporated Sonoma County?
What fence materials are allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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