Rancho Cordova, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- By-right height
- Residential fences up to 7 feet, no permit
- Permit trigger
- Fences over 7 feet need administrative use permit
- Exempt from certification
- Retaining walls under 36 inches
- Governing sections
- RCMC §§ 23.731.020 and 23.731.030
- Still may need
- Building permit even when certification is exempt
Summary
Rancho Cordova requires a zoning certification before installing a new fence or wall, though a residential fence up to seven feet tall is allowed by right without one. Anything over seven feet needs an administrative use permit, while retaining walls under 36 inches and code-compliant residential privacy fences under seven feet are exempt from certification, per RCMC §§ 23.731.020 and 23.731.030.
Unless otherwise exempt in RCMC § 23.731.030 (Exemptions), a zoning certification shall be required for new fences and walls. Residential fences, up to seven feet in height, are allowed by right. Fences over seven feet in height require an administrative use permit. ... The following fences and walls shall be exempt from RCMC § 23.731.020; however, a building permit may be required: A. Retaining Walls. Retaining walls less than 36 inches in height. B. Residential Fences. Fences less than seven feet in height located on residential property (privacy fences) constructed in compliance with the standards of RCMC § 23.731.040.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
030. The section carves out the most common case for homeowners: 'Residential fences, up to seven feet in height, are allowed by right,' meaning no permit or certification is needed at all if the fence meets the code's height-and-location table. Only fences taller than seven feet trigger the heavier administrative use permit process, which requires the designated approval authority to make discretionary findings before approval. 080(A) and (G). 060(B), if the combined retaining wall exceeds six feet, the fence above it must be set back at least three feet with landscaping, regardless of whether either element alone would have needed a permit.
Violations & Fines
A fence or wall built without the required zoning certification or administrative use permit is a zoning code violation under RCMC § 23.173.060: it is treated as a public nuisance, can be ordered removed or modified to meet the height and setback standards, and each day the noncompliant structure remains counts as a separate infraction under state law until it is brought into compliance or a permit is obtained after the fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a backyard fence in Rancho Cordova?
How tall can a fence be without a permit?
Are retaining walls exempt from the fence permit rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle fence permit requirements.