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

Alpine County administers building and zoning through the Community Development Department's Building Safety Division and Planning Division (50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, 530-694-2140). The county's Building Safety Division indicates that fences over six feet in height require a building permit; lower fences generally do not need a building permit but must still comply with the zone height limits and the corner sight-distance rules in Alpine County Code Chapter 18.68. Note that this six-foot county threshold is stricter than the statewide California Building Code exemption, which exempts fences not over seven feet. Applications are submitted through the online portal on the Community Development web page. If fence construction, a driveway, a turnaround, a utility trench, or landscaping takes place within the County road right-of-way, an Encroachment Permit is required from Public Works in addition to any building or zoning approval. If your lot is in a subdivision with recorded CC&Rs, the county advises contacting the homeowners association for approval before submitting plans, because private covenants may impose stricter fence rules than the county code. When a permit is needed, plans should show all property lines and structure-to-property-line setbacks.