Unincorporated San Mateo County zoning allows wood, vinyl, masonry, wrought iron, and chain-link fencing subject to zoning-district and Design Review requirements. Barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited in residential districts. Fences in the Coastal Zone require a Coastal Development Permit if they impair public views or scenic corridors. Design Review (DR) district overlays, common in Emerald Hills and coastal neighborhoods, impose additional material and color limits.
County Zoning Regulations (codified in Title 6 and Part Two of the Zoning Ordinance) do not prescribe an exhaustive materials list but prohibit barbed wire and razor wire in residential districts per general zoning provisions. Electric fences are limited to agricultural districts (A, RM, PAD). Chain-link is generally allowed but discouraged in front yards and visible from scenic corridors along Highway 1, Highway 35, and La Honda Road. DR (Design Review) combining districts, which overlay much of the unincorporated coastside and hillside residential areas, require the Planning Director or Design Review Officer to approve exterior materials, colors, and height for consistency with the Community Design Manual. Coastal Zone fences that block public-view corridors can be denied under the Local Coastal Program even if zoning would otherwise permit. HOAs in Highlands, Emerald Lake Hills, and West Menlo Park often impose stricter material palettes than County code.
Non-compliant materials in residential district: code enforcement notice, 30-day correction. Continued violation: infraction $100-$500 per §1.04. Barbed/razor wire in residential district: immediate removal order. DR violation: permit revocation, required replacement at owner cost.
San Mateo County, CA
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San Mateo County, CA
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San Mateo County, CA
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San Mateo County, CA
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San Mateo County, CA
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See how San Mateo County's material restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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