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

Two separate approvals can apply to a fence: a building permit and zoning compliance. For building permits, California has adopted statewide thresholds: under the California Building Code (Title 24), a fence not over 7 feet high does not require a building permit. So most residential fences in unincorporated Sacramento County need no building permit, though one is generally triggered above that height or for masonry walls over the code threshold. Separately, the fence must still comply with the zoning height limits in Sacramento County Zoning Code Section 5.2.5. Where a homeowner wants a front-yard fence taller than the material-based limit, up to 7 feet, the County allows it with a Minor Use Permit (Section 5.2.5.B.1.a.vi), and fences that otherwise deviate from the Section 5.2.5 standards are permitted with a Special Development Permit approved by the Zoning Administrator (Section 5.2.5.A.10). Use of barbed wire, concertina wire, or electric fencing requires a Minor Use Permit except in agricultural or industrial zones adjacent to agricultural or industrial property. Because a fence can be permit-exempt for building purposes yet still violate zoning, confirm both with Sacramento County Building Permits (916-874-5479) and Code Enforcement before you build.