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

The Tulare County Zoning Ordinance (Ord. 352) regulates fences primarily by height and location, not by a prohibited-materials list. Section 15.C.1.n refers generically to 'a fence or wall' up to 6 feet without restricting the material, so wood, vinyl, chain-link, wrought iron, masonry block, and similar materials are all generally allowed in the unincorporated areas. Where the code does specify a material characteristic, it is tied to a function: Section 15.A.5.b requires a 'solid' fence or wall (not see-through) for screening off-street parking lots that abut residential zones, and the adopted California Building Code sets barrier standards for swimming pools, including a maximum 2-inch mesh size for chain-link pool barriers unless fitted with slats, and a requirement that horizontal members be on the pool side where the spacing between them is less than 45 inches. The County does not have a general ordinance banning barbed wire, electric, or razor fencing in residential zones; however, such fencing can raise nuisance or liability issues and may be limited in specific contexts, so verify with the RMA. Because the County does not maintain an architectural-review material list for ordinary fences, owners have wide latitude in material choice as long as height, placement, and any applicable building-code standards are met.