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

Tehama County's zoning code regulates fences by height and location rather than by material. Section 17.08.030 sets the residential height limits (6 feet side/rear, 3 feet in the front setback) but does not specify or prohibit particular fencing materials, so wood, vinyl, chain-link, welded wire, field/livestock wire, and masonry or block walls are generally all permitted in residential and agricultural zones. The same height and permit rules apply no matter the material: a masonry wall over 7 feet, like any fence over 7 feet, requires a building permit under the California Building Code, and tall masonry walls may need engineering. Barbed wire and electric fencing are commonly used for agricultural and livestock purposes in the county's rural districts; the zoning code does not impose a countywide ban, though placement that endangers the public or obstructs roadway sight distance can raise safety concerns. Because the code is silent on material, specific subdivisions — such as private developments with recorded CC&Rs (for example, the Lake California / River Lakes Ranch area) — may impose their own material and appearance standards that are stricter than the county rules and enforced privately. Confirm any subdivision CC&Rs and the parcel's zoning before choosing materials.