Fairfield requires a building permit for fences and freestanding walls over 7 feet tall and for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing. Fences at or below 7 feet that meet the height tables in FMC 25.30 do not need a permit, but they must comply with setback and sight-distance rules.
The 2022 California Building Code, adopted locally under Fairfield Municipal Code Chapter 5, exempts fences not over 7 feet tall from building-permit requirements (CBC §105.2). Anything taller, including most decorative metalwork on multifamily or commercial parcels, requires a building permit through the Community Development Department Building Safety Division. Retaining walls require a permit when they retain more than 4 feet of soil measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or any wall that supports a surcharge such as a driveway. Applications go through the city's online BUILD permit portal with a site plan showing property lines, fence type, height, and setbacks. Sight-distance triangles at driveways and corner intersections still apply even when no permit is needed. Electric and barbed-wire fences are prohibited in residential zones.
Unpermitted fences over the height threshold are subject to stop-work orders, double permit fees, and potential demolition. Administrative citations follow Chapter 1, Article II ($100/$200/$500 schedule). Liens may attach for unpaid abatement costs.
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