San Mateo County, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- NMU-zoned parcels, North Fair Oaks
- Street-facing fence height
- 4 feet max
- Chain-link/corrugated metal
- Prohibited within 15 ft of street
- Masonry walls
- Not permitted within 15 ft of street
Summary
In the North Fair Oaks NMU commercial district, chain-link and corrugated metal fences are banned within 15 feet of the street, and visible street-facing fences top out at 4 feet.
Where visible and within 15 feet of street-facing property lines, fences shall not exceed 4 feet in height, masonry walls are not permitted, and chain link and corrugated fences are not permitted. Where visible and within 15 feet of street, chain link andcorrugated metal fences are prohibited.
(2) Mechanical Equipment
(a) Mechanical equipment located in a street-facing building setback shall comply with utility provider standards and shall be in a vault that is entirely below finished grade; or surrounded on sidesfacing and perpendicular to the street by an opaque fence or gate, which have a height not less than 6 inches above topmost point of the equipment.
(b) If utility provider requirement conflict with design standards,then utility provider requirements shall take precedence.
(3) Vehicle Access and Parking
(a) Development sites with street frontage along El Camino Real or on Middlefield Road shall not provide a driveway from these streets if vehicle access can be provided by way of another public street ora public alley.
(b) Driveways and garage entrances shall not exceed a width of 25 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 47).
Full Breakdown
San Mateo County's NMU District rules, which apply only within the parts of North Fair Oaks zoned Neighborhood Mixed-Use, set site design standards for walls and fences. Where a fence is visible and within 15 feet of a street-facing property line, it cannot exceed 4 feet in height, masonry walls are not permitted there, and chain-link or corrugated metal fencing is prohibited outright in that zone. This is a district-specific design standard, not a countywide fence rule.
Violations & Fines
County Planning and Building enforces through code enforcement and the permit/design review process; noncompliant fences can be required to be altered or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this fence rule apply countywide?
Can I install a chain-link fence facing the street in NMU?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Mateo County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Mateo County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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