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

Mariposa County has no incorporated cities, so all fence permitting runs through County departments. The Building Department, applying the 2022 California Residential Building Code (Section R105), exempts fences not over 7 feet high from a building permit; a fence over 7 feet requires a building permit. Retaining walls are exempt only when not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, so taller retaining walls need a permit. The Building Department also notes that any structure supplied with water or power requires a permit. Separate from building permits, the Planning Department says it has no jurisdiction over the placement of a fence in the rural areas of the county. However, if a fence is within a Town Planning Area, it may require Design Review for height, structure, and design materials, and may be subject to the setback-area fence allowances in Chapter 17.336. Because requirements differ by location, the County recommends confirming your parcel's zone and Town Planning Area status before building. For questions, the Building Department can be reached at (209) 966-3934 and the Planning Department at (209) 966-5151.