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

There is no standalone 'fence permit' in the Tehama County Zoning Ordinance for a normal property-line fence that complies with the height rules in Section 17.08.030. The permitting trigger comes from the building code: Tehama County's Building & Safety Department enforces the California Building Code, and under that code fences not over seven feet in height are exempt from a building permit. A fence taller than seven feet therefore requires a building permit from Tehama County Building & Safety (444 Oak Street, Room H, Red Bluff). Retaining walls are treated separately — a retaining wall over four feet high (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall), or any wall supporting a surcharge, requires a permit even if it is shorter. Tehama County adopted the 2025 California Building Code (it previously adopted the 2022 edition under Ordinance #2127). Even when a fence is permit-exempt, it must still comply with zoning setbacks, the residential height limits, and sight-distance requirements; a permit exemption does not authorize work that violates other county ordinances. For a specific parcel, confirm the zoning district and any applicable conditions with the Planning Department before construction.