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

A review of the Colusa County Zoning Code (Chapter 44) and the county code finds no provision restricting fence materials for ordinary residential fences. The code does not prohibit specific materials (such as barbed wire, chain link, or electrified fencing) or require particular materials in general residential zones, and Article 44-0 (Definitions) does not define or classify fence types. Material choice is therefore generally left to the property owner. Two material-related exceptions exist for specific situations: to screen an inoperative vehicle from view and avoid nuisance abatement, County Code Chapter 12B requires a 'solid' six-foot fence (so a see-through material would not satisfy that screening alternative); and swimming-pool barrier fences must meet the material and design standards of the statewide Swimming Pool Safety Act and California Residential Code (no gaps, climbable spacing, self-closing gates), enforced through the county Building Code (Chapter 5). Otherwise, the only construction control is the building-permit threshold under California Residential Code R105.2, which requires a permit when a fence exceeds 7 feet regardless of material. Owners should still avoid materials that obstruct sight distance at driveways and intersections.