Santa Barbara, CA Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

The City of Santa Barbara's fence regulations (SBMC 28.87.170 / 30.140) address how tall and where a fence may be built, but the City does not set rules for who pays for a fence on a shared property line. Cost-sharing and maintenance of boundary fences in California are governed by state law, specifically California Civil Code 841, the Good Neighbor Fence Law. Under Civil Code 841, adjoining landowners are presumed to share an equal benefit from any fence dividing their properties and, unless otherwise agreed in writing, are presumed equally responsible for the reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement. A landowner who intends to incur costs for a fence must give 30 days' prior written notice to each affected adjoining landowner, describing the problem, the proposed solution, the estimated cost, the proposed cost-sharing approach, and the timeline. The equal-responsibility presumption may be overcome by a preponderance of evidence showing equal cost-sharing would be unjust, considering factors such as disproportionate burden versus benefit and undue financial hardship. The fence itself must still meet the City's height, location and design-review requirements.