Turlock, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Max fence height
- 7 feet citywide
- Front/corner yard height
- 3 ft solid, 4 ft open
- Banned materials
- barbed wire, razor wire, electrified fencing
- Commercial exception
- barbed wire allowed only with MAA permit
Summary
Turlock caps residential fences at seven feet and flatly bans barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing in all residential districts, with stricter three- and four-foot limits in front and corner side yards.
Barbed and razor wire, and electrified fences are prohibited in residential districts.
(9) Front or corner side yard setback may be reduced to the average of the two (2) adjoining lots when the adjoining lots have already been developed. In no case shall any portion of any building in a residential district be located within a public utility easement (PUE), or closer to the front property line than ten (10') feet or twenty (20') feet for garages/carports.
(10) Vehicular access. For all uses, there shall be vehicular access to the off-street parking and loading facilities from a dedicated street or alley.
(11) In the R-L4.5 district, one (1) side yard may be eliminated if the opposite side yard is ten (10') feet. A five (5') foot wide easement on the lot adjacent to the eliminated side yard shall be required for building overhang, encroachments and access for building maintenance. Such easement shall be recorded prior to the recording of the final map or the issuance of any building permit, whichever occurs first. Otherwise both side yards shall be a minimum of five (5') feet. In no case shall any structure be closer than ten (10') feet from a structure on an adjoining property. In the R-L4.5 district those units which abut lots in a different zoning district shall maintain a five (5') foot adjoining side yard.
(12) In the R-L4.5 district, the rear yard may be reduced to five (5') feet for a length not to exceed one-third (1/3) of the width of the parcel.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937289; v6 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
The city's residential district development standards cap fence and wall height at seven feet, dropping to three feet for a solid fence (four feet for an open-style fence) in a required front or corner side yard, with limited exceptions for noise mitigation or rear-yard security fencing next to utility property. Materially, barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing are banned outright in residential districts; commercial districts allow barbed wire only with a minor administrative approval, kept out of view from the street and away from residences. All fencing must still meet the driveway and corner visibility standards of TMC § 9-2-215.
Violations & Fines
Fences exceeding the height cap or built with prohibited materials such as barbed or razor wire are code violations, enforceable by the Development Services Director, who can require alteration or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put barbed wire on my fence in Turlock?
How tall can my fence be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Turlock
California rules heatmap·Compare Turlock to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle material restrictions.