Salem, OR Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

005(a)(2)(A) lists the categories of development that would otherwise require a building permit but are exempt from Salem's site plan review process, and construction of a fence or retaining wall is item (vii) on that list, alongside single-family construction, sign installation, and interior tenant improvements. 050. Residential fences and walls are capped at eight feet, dropping to four feet within 20 feet of a front property line abutting a street, and to six feet within ten feet of a side or rear yard abutting a street; within ten feet of a street-facing line, any part of the fence above 30 inches must be less than 25 percent opaque.

Nonresidential fences may reach 12 feet, with an eight-foot cap and the same 30-inch opacity rule near street frontage. Gates built into a fence or wall must meet the same height limits and cannot swing open onto a public right-of-way. Fences must also comply with the vision clearance standards of SRC chapter 805 and be built from designated fencing material such as wood pickets, vinyl, wrought iron, or chainlink; corrugated cardboard, plywood, garage doors, and similar improvised material are prohibited outright.