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

There is no County ordinance dividing the cost of a shared fence; that is a matter of California state law. Civil Code 841 (the Good Neighbor Fence Act of 2013) provides that "adjoining landowners are presumed to share an equal benefit from any fence dividing their properties and, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties in a written agreement, shall be presumed to be equally responsible for the reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement of the fence." An owner who intends to incur such costs "shall give 30 days' prior written notice to each affected adjoining landowner," describing the problem, proposed solution, estimated cost, cost-sharing approach and timeline. The equal-share presumption can be "overcome by a preponderance of the evidence demonstrating that imposing equal responsibility... would be unjust," with courts weighing disproportionate burden and value impact. Separately, Monterey County zoning (Title 21) still controls how tall the boundary fence may be and that it not encroach on easements, so both the state cost rule and the County height rule apply.