Fontana, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Solid fence permit exemption
- Up to 3.5 feet
- Open fence permit exemption
- Up to 4 feet, 90% open
- Governing section
- Sec. 5-62(a), CBC Sec. 105.2
- Above threshold
- Building permit required
Summary
Fontana's building code amendment exempts short fences from a building permit: solid fences up to 3.5 feet and open fences up to 4 feet, with at least 90 percent open surface area, don't need one. Sec. 5-62(a) rewrites California Building Code Section 105.2's Exemption 2 to set those two thresholds; anything taller falls back under the standard permit requirement.
(a)Section 105.2 Building Exemption 2 of the California Building Code, known as the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2 and the International Building Code, is hereby amended to read as follows:2.Solid fences not over 3-½ feet high and open fences with an open surface area of not less than 90 percent (90%) not over 4 feet high.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 17).
Full Breakdown
Fontana Municipal Code Sec. 2, Building Exemption 2, of the adopted California Building Code (California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 2, and the International Building Code) to read: solid fences not over 3-1/2 feet high, and open fences with at least 90 percent open surface area not over 4 feet high, are exempt from needing a building permit. 5 feet, or anything less than 90 percent open above 4 feet, needs one. The amendment sits inside Article III of Chapter 5, which adopts the 2025 California Building Code as the city's building code under Sec.
5-61 and makes interfering with its enforcement, or building in violation of it, a misdemeanor under Sec. 5-5. Because the zoning and development code, Chapter 30, is not part of this file, any additional height limit tied to a specific zoning district sits outside this permit-exemption threshold and must be checked separately with the planning division.
Violations & Fines
Building a solid fence over 3.5 feet, or a less-than-90-percent-open fence over 4 feet, without first obtaining a building permit is enforced as a violation of the adopted California Building Code under Sec. 5-5, a misdemeanor punishable per the Sec. 1-7 general penalty of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fence in Fontana?
What counts as an 'open' fence for the permit exemption?
What if I want a 6-foot solid privacy fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fontana
California rules heatmap·Compare Fontana to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle fence permit requirements.