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

Salinas's fence rules sit in Chapter 21, Sections 21-10 through 21-15, and apply citywide regardless of zoning district. Sec. 21-10 defines a 'fence' as any structure whose primary purpose is to contain, bound, or delimit an area, lot, or premises, or to block access or visibility into or out of it, and ties fence construction to the city's building code. Sec. 21-11 lets the building official require a fence on any vacant property whose unsightly or unsafe condition makes one necessary in the public interest, giving the city a tool to force fencing around a hazardous or blighted lot rather than just penalize an existing bad fence.

Sec. 21-12 bans building any fence or part of one from materials not allowed for permanent exterior construction under the building code, expressly naming flattened tin cans, cardboard, tar paper, broken boards, and any broken, deteriorated, or unsightly material, and any fence built on or next to a public right-of-way must follow the city's specifications for that location. Sec. 21-13 covers upkeep: a fence cannot be maintained in an unsafe, unstable, or unsightly condition, must keep a uniform surface in good repair, and any paint, coating, or veneer cannot be allowed to deteriorate past the point of losing fifty percent or more of its original protective value.

Sec. 21-14 requires the building official to notify an owner in writing of a violation and gives the owner ten days to repair or remove the offending fence before the building official can issue a citation. Sec. 21-15 declares any noncompliant fence a public nuisance subject to city attorney abatement action.