Watsonville, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Section 14-32.050 of the Watsonville Municipal Code, part of the fence chapter adopted by Ordinance 506-80 C-M effective September 11, 1980, uses the word only. Barbed wire fences may be constructed only to enclose bona fide pastures where cattle or other livestock are kept; or when placed over a six (6') foot fence to enclose commercial or industrial facilities; or to safeguard or prevent hazardous conditions. Everything outside those three categories is closed to barbed wire.

The pasture exception is tied to livestock actually kept there, which the words bona fide make a factual test. The commercial and industrial exception has a physical condition built in: the barbed wire must sit on top of a fence six feet tall, and Section 14-32.020(b) already fixes six (6') feet as the height cap behind the front and exterior side yard setback lines. The third exception, safeguarding or preventing hazardous conditions, is open-ended and does not name a land use.

The barbed wire rule sits inside the permit framework. Under Section 14-32.020 no person shall erect any fence, or structure in the nature of a fence, on private property in the City without an Administrative Review Permit, and Section 14-32.030 bars the Zoning Administrator from granting a permit for a fence that will constitute a hazard to street traffic or to pedestrians. A barbed wire fence in the area between the street and the front or exterior side yard setback line also faces the three (3') feet six (6") inches height cap in Section 14-32.020(a). The chapter prints no other list of banned fence materials.