Fresno County, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Interior side/rear limit
- 7 ft in most residential and industrial zones
- Front yard limit
- 4 ft most zones, 3 ft urban residential
- Above-limit fences
- Need Conditional Use Permit or Variance
- Game-court fences over 7 ft
- Require Director Review and Approval
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Public Works and Planning
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $500 fine, 180 days jail
Summary
Fresno County lets property owners build fences up to 7 feet along interior side and rear lines in most zones without a zoning permit, but front-yard fences cap at 4 feet in most districts, and any fence above the Table 3-2 limits needs a Conditional Use Permit or Variance from the Department of Public Works and Planning.
(1) Fence heights in excess of these standards may be allowed by an approved Conditional Use Permit, Variance, Tract or Parcel Map or when required by the County for reasons of the health and safety of the general public. ... Fences, walls, lighting, or other associated appurtenances over seven (7) feet in height to enclose/illuminate tennis courts or other game areas shall be permitted to the rear of the required front yard subject to a Director Review and Approval (see DRA Chapter 846.5). See setback requirements for areas constructed specifically for tennis courts and game areas in Table No. 2-5 of Article 2, Chapter 810.2.
Full Breakdown
050 sets maximum fence, wall, and hedge heights by zone in Table 3-2. Commercial zones cap fences at 4 feet in front and street-side setbacks and 10 feet on interior side and rear lines; industrial zones allow 7 feet front and street-side and 10 feet interior side and rear. In every zone other than A-E, A-L, and R-C districts, the limit is 4 feet front and street side, 7 feet interior side and rear. Urban and rural residential zones (Subsections G and H) allow up to 7 feet on interior side and rear lines, but front-yard fences are capped at 3 feet in urban residential zones and 4 feet in rural residential zones, with a carve-out letting open, view-through fencing (at least 70 percent open) reach 7 feet in the front yard of most R-1 through R-4 districts.
C from the highest finished grade abutting the fence to the top of the fence material, and grade cannot be artificially raised to gain height. No zoning permit is required for a fence within these table limits, but a taller fence needs a Conditional Use Permit, Variance, or Tract/Parcel Map approval, or County authorization for health-and-safety reasons. 5 even when set behind the required front yard. B.
Violations & Fines
Building or maintaining a fence that exceeds the Table 3-2 height limit without the required Conditional Use Permit, Variance, or Director Review and Approval is a misdemeanor under Zoning Ordinance Section 878.6.030, punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to 180 days in County Jail, or both. Each day the oversized fence remains counts as a separate offense, and the Department of Public Works and Planning can order it modified or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a 6-foot fence in my backyard in Fresno County?
How tall can a front-yard fence be?
What if I want a fence taller than the code allows around my tennis court?
What happens if I build an oversized fence without approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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