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

Vacaville Municipal Code does not contain a city-specific shared-fence rule, so California Civil Code 841 controls. Under section 841(b)(1), adjoining landowners are presumed to share equally in the reasonable costs of construction, maintenance, or necessary replacement of fences dividing their properties. Section 841(b)(2) requires 30 days' written advance notice to the adjoining owner before incurring costs. The notice must describe the problem with the existing fence (or absence of one), the proposed solution, the estimated cost, the proposed cost-sharing arrangement, and a timeline. The notified neighbor can rebut the equal-cost presumption by showing the cost imposes an undue financial hardship, that the proposed fence is of unnecessary quality or design, that the proposed location is improper, or that the proposed cost-sharing is otherwise unfair. Disputes are typically resolved in California Small Claims Court (Civil Code 116.220, current jurisdictional limit $12,500 for natural persons). Vacaville Code Enforcement does NOT resolve private fence disputes - this is a civil matter. Boundary uncertainty is resolved by survey under California Code of Civil Procedure 875-883.5 and the doctrine of agreed boundary (Civil Code 1622). Spite-fence claims fall under Civil Code 841.4 (fence over 10 feet built to annoy a neighbor). Trees that overhang property lines are governed by Civil Code 833 (self-help trimming to the property line) and Booska v. Patel (1994) limits.