Sonoma County, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Building permit - solid fence
- Required over 7 ft (wood, concrete, metal, masonry)
- Building permit - any fence
- Required over 10 ft regardless of design
- Standard design
- Approved design usable up to 8 ft; over 8 ft needs engineer/architect
- Administrative Design Review
- Solid front/street-side fences 3-6 ft; fences in SR combining district
- Use permit / Design Review
- Exceptions to height, location, materials, or design standards
- Agency
- Permit Sonoma (permitsonoma.org); site plan form CSS-019
Summary
Many fences in unincorporated Sonoma County need no permit, but a building permit is required for solid wood/concrete/metal/masonry fences over 7 feet and for any fence over 10 feet. Taller or solid fences in required yards may also need administrative design review, design review, or a use permit under the 2025 objective standards.
A building permit is required for all solid wood, concrete and masonry fences exceeding seven (7) feet in height, and all fences, regardless of construction, exceeding ten (10) feet in height. Fences exceeding eight (8) feet in height must be designed by an architect or engineer.
Full Breakdown
Permit Sonoma administers fence permitting for the unincorporated county. Per the BPC-023 Fence Requirements handout, a building permit is required for all solid wood, concrete, metal and masonry fences exceeding seven feet (7') in height, and for all fences regardless of construction exceeding ten feet (10') in height. Fences up to 8 feet may use the county's approved standard design in lieu of an engineer's or architect's design; fences over 8 feet require professional structural design. Separate from the building permit, the zoning code uses a tiered framework adopted under Ordinance No.
6547 (File ORD25-0006) in December 2025. Under the PJR-133 Fence Guidelines: no zoning permit is needed for fences within by-right height limits (3 feet or less in front/street-side yards, 6 feet or less in side/rear yards, or 8 feet with an open/lattice top); solid fences from 3 to 6 feet in front/street-side yards, and fences in the Scenic Resources (SR) combining district, require Administrative Design Review; and exceptions to the height, location, material, or design standards require Design Review Committee approval or a use permit.
A site plan showing fence location is required (form CSS-019). Always confirm your zoning district and any combining-district overlays with Permit Sonoma before starting work.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a regulated fence (solid fence over 7 feet, any fence over 10 feet, or a fence requiring design review/use permit) without the necessary permit can result in a stop-work order, code-enforcement citation, fines, and an order to remove or modify the fence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in unincorporated Sonoma County?
Who issues fence permits in the unincorporated county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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