Pleasanton, CA Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Pleasanton's Municipal Code (Chapter 18.84) controls how tall a boundary fence may be and where it may sit, but it does not decide who pays for a shared fence. That question falls under California Civil Code Section 841, the Good Neighbor Fence Law. Section 841 presumes that adjoining landowners share an equal benefit from a fence dividing their properties and, unless they agree otherwise in writing, are equally responsible for the reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement. Before a property owner incurs costs for a shared fence, the law requires giving each affected adjoining owner 30 days' prior written notice. That notice must describe the nature of the problem, the proposed solution, the estimated cost, the proposed cost-sharing approach, and the proposed timeline. The presumption of equal responsibility is rebuttable: a court may shift the allocation based on a preponderance of the evidence showing equal cost-sharing would be unjust, weighing factors such as financial burden, whether the work is needed, and the proportional benefit to each owner. Practically, Pleasanton homeowners should still keep the fence within city height limits and respect the actual property line; a survey can prevent encroachment disputes. For sight-line safety on corner lots, the city's 30-inch and 42-inch street-side limits apply regardless of any cost agreement.