Tehama County, CA Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Disputes between neighbors over a shared fence in unincorporated Tehama County are handled under California state law rather than the county code. California Civil Code Section 841 (the Good Neighbor Fence Act) provides that 'adjoining landowners are presumed to share an equal benefit from any fence dividing their properties and... shall be presumed to be equally responsible for the reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement of the fence.' Before a landowner incurs costs for a shared fence, the statute requires that 'the landowner shall give 30 days' prior written notice to each affected adjoining landowner,' including notice of the presumption of equal responsibility and a description of the problem, the proposed work, and the estimated cost. The equal-cost presumption can be overcome 'by a preponderance of the evidence' showing equal responsibility would be unjust — for example, where the financial burden is substantially disproportionate to the benefit, or would cause undue financial hardship. Tehama County's Section 17.08.030 controls only how tall a boundary fence may be in residential zones (6 feet side/rear, 3 feet in the front setback); it does not address who pays. Property-line location and trespass are private civil matters; the county does not survey property lines for owners. Owners are encouraged to confirm the boundary by survey and to keep the written notice and agreement.