Nevada County, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Nevada County's fencing code takes a function-based rather than a material-ban approach. Sec. 106 defines fencing as a barrier of wood, metal, wire, fabric, boards, or other materials, and expressly folds walls of concrete, stone, brick, tile, or similar solid material into the definition of fencing. Rather than forbidding particular materials, the code sorts them into two regulated categories: 'open' fencing (open board, split rail, wire, chain link, and similar materials that do not impair through vision or conflict with vehicle sight distance) and 'solid' fencing (materials that impair vision and conflict with sight distance, including masonry walls).

The category drives the height allowance, so the same parcel can have a 6-foot wire fence in the rear but only a 3-foot solid wall in the front-yard setback in Residential districts. Where open and solid materials are combined in one fence, the most restrictive standard applies. The one material-specific constraint is that solid fence and wall construction is 'subject to the requirements of the Uniform Building Code,' which governs structural materials, footings, and engineering for masonry and similar walls. The brochure does not list barbed wire or electric fencing rules; agricultural fencing questions and any combining-district overlays should be confirmed with the Planning Department, since this brochure is a summary of Sec. 106 rather than the full code text.