Solano County, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit-Exempt Fence Height
- 6 feet or less
- Permit-Exempt Retaining Wall
- 4 feet or less (footing to top)
- Retaining Wall Exception
- Permit required if surcharge or impounding liquid
- Permit Authority
- Solano County Building & Safety Services
- Zoning Still Applies
- Yes - Chapter 28 governs height/placement
Summary
Solano County Building & Safety Services exempts fences not over 6 feet high from a building permit. Fences over 6 feet, and certain walls or retaining walls, may require a permit, and all fences must still comply with the height and visibility limits in Chapter 28 zoning.
Fences not over 6 feet high. All fencing, unless the fencing height exceeds six (6) feet and is solid. A livestock corral or loading shoot is not considered solid fencing.
Full Breakdown
In unincorporated Solano County, the Department of Resource Management Building & Safety Services lists fences not over six feet high among the structures that do not require a building permit. A fence taller than 6 feet generally requires a building permit. Retaining walls are treated separately: retaining walls not over 4 feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, are exempt from a building permit unless they support a surcharge (added load) or impound liquids. Importantly, a building-permit exemption does not waive zoning rules.
I. Property owners should confirm their zoning district and any easements before building, because a fence in a required yard or sight-distance triangle can still be a zoning violation even if no building permit is needed. Encroachment onto a county road right-of-way requires a separate encroachment permit from Public Works.
Violations & Fines
Building a fence over 6 feet, or a non-exempt retaining wall, without the required building permit can result in stop-work orders, after-the-fact permit requirements, and administrative penalties. Separately, a permit-exempt fence that violates Chapter 28 height or visibility standards is subject to zoning code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a building permit for a fence in unincorporated Solano County?
Does a permit exemption mean I can build any fence I want?
What about a retaining wall?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Solano County
California rules heatmap·Compare Solano County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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