Solano County, CA Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

In unincorporated Solano County, the Department of Resource Management Building & Safety Services lists fences not over six feet high among the structures that do not require a building permit. A fence taller than 6 feet generally requires a building permit. Retaining walls are treated separately: retaining walls not over 4 feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, are exempt from a building permit unless they support a surcharge (added load) or impound liquids. Importantly, a building-permit exemption does not waive zoning rules. Even a permit-exempt fence must comply with Section 28.93.A.3 height limits, with corner-lot visibility requirements, and with any screening fence required under Section 28.94.I. Property owners should confirm their zoning district and any easements before building, because a fence in a required yard or sight-distance triangle can still be a zoning violation even if no building permit is needed. Encroachment onto a county road right-of-way requires a separate encroachment permit from Public Works.