Butte County, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Non-masonry fence permit threshold
- Over 7 feet
- Masonry fence permit threshold
- Over 6 feet (1829 mm)
- Extra height permit
- +2 feet via Form PLA-11
- Permit office
- Planning Division, 7 County Center Dr., Oroville (530) 552-3701
- Code section
- BCC Sections 26-3.1, 24-57 et seq.
Summary
Butte County does not require a building permit for non-masonry fences up to 7 feet high, or masonry fences up to 6 feet high. Fences still must comply with zoning height limits in Table 24-59-1, and exceeding those zoning limits by up to 2 feet requires an Additional Fence Height Administrative Permit (Form PLA-11).
Building permits shall not be required for the following: ... 2. Fences, other than swimming pool barriers, and other than those built of masonry material, not over 7 feet high. Masonry fences not over 6 feet (1829 mm) high. Fences still need to meet zoning requirements. ... Exemptions from permit requirements shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of current code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction.
Full Breakdown
Under Butte County Code Section 26-3.1 (which adopts California Building Code Section 105.2 exemptions), a building permit is not required for non-masonry fences not over 7 feet high or masonry fences not over 6 feet high (Form DBP-20, item 2). However, exempt fences still must meet zoning setbacks and the height limits in Table 24-59-1. To exceed the zoning limit by up to two additional feet, the property owner must obtain an Additional Fence Height Administrative Permit under BCC Section 24-57 et seq., using Form PLA-11. The application is submitted to the Planning Division at 7 County Center Drive, Oroville and is reviewed by the Zoning Administrator. Materials must be wood, decorative masonry, or ornamental steel/iron (other materials require zoning-administrator approval). Swimming pool barrier fences are governed separately by California Health and Safety Code Section 115920 et seq. (Swimming Pool Safety Act).
Violations & Fines
Constructing a fence taller than zoning limits without an Additional Fence Height Administrative Permit, or a masonry fence over 6 feet (or non-masonry over 7 feet) without a building permit, is a violation. Enforcement actions include stop-work orders, after-the-fact permit requirements with potential investigation fees, code-enforcement penalties under Chapter 1 of the County Code, and required height reductions or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a building permit for a 6-foot wood fence in unincorporated Butte County?
How do I get permission to build an 8-foot fence?
Is a masonry block wall treated the same as a wood fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Butte County
California rules heatmap·Compare Butte County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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