Most short residential fences do not require a building permit in unincorporated Monterey County, but a planning permit may still be required by the underlying zoning district. Building permits are needed when fence height exceeds the material-based threshold.
Monterey County HCD Building Services has stated that a building permit is not required for concrete and masonry fences six feet or less, wood, vinyl and metal fences eight feet or less, and open metal fences ten feet or less. These thresholds derive from the California Residential Code as adopted in Monterey County Code Title 18, which generally exempts low fences from building-permit review. However, zoning regulations in Title 20 (Coastal) and Title 21 (Inland) impose a separate six-foot fence height cap unless accessory-structure setbacks are met, so a planning permit or zoning clearance may still be necessary even when a building permit is not. The Permit Center at 1441 Schilling Place in Salinas handles both reviews; staff can identify the zoning district for a given Assessor Parcel Number and determine whether a Coastal Development Permit, Administrative Permit, or Design Approval applies. Fences within the Coastal Zone or scenic overlays often require additional design or coastal review beyond the building permit thresholds.
Building a fence above the material-based building-permit thresholds without a permit violates Monterey County Code Title 18 and is subject to double permit fees, mandatory inspection, and possible removal. Failure to obtain a required planning permit (for example, fences over six feet without meeting setbacks, or fences in a Coastal Zone needing a CDP) is a zoning violation enforced by HCD with daily administrative fines.
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