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

Two separate approvals can apply to fences in unincorporated Shasta County. First, the Zoning Plan (Title 17) limits fence height by yard - generally three feet in a required front yard and six feet in a rear or side yard - and a use permit from the Planning Division is required to exceed those caps under Section 17.84.030. Second, the California Building Code (CBC Section 105.2), enforced by the Shasta County Building Division, exempts most fences from a building permit: a fence not over seven feet in height needs no building permit. Concrete or masonry walls over four feet measured from the bottom of the footing, and any fence over seven feet, do require a building permit with structural details. The Building Division's stated scope expressly includes plan review, permits and inspections for miscellaneous items such as signs, fences and mobile-home set-ups in the unincorporated area. Because zoning and building rules are independent, a fence that needs no building permit (under 7 feet) can still violate the zoning height cap in a front yard. Always verify your parcel's zone district and required yards with the Department of Resource Management, and check sight-distance rules near driveways and corners, before installing a fence.