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Sonoma, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Rear/side fence max
7 ft. (8 ft. if open lattice above 7 ft.)
Front/street-side fence max
3.5 ft.
Intersection fence max
30 in. if solid
Permit for taller fence
Use permit, planning commission review
Barbed/razor wire
Banned in residential zones

Summary

In the City of Sonoma, a residential fence, hedge or wall built within the height limits of Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.46.030 needs no land use permit at all, per § 19.03.030(B)(2). Go over the maximum height, though, and you need a discretionary use permit approved by the planning commission under § 19.46.030(B), with specific findings on compatibility, safety and neighborhood fit.

2. Fences – Residential Zoning Districts. Fences in the residential zoning districts are exempt from land use permit requirements as provided by Chapter 19.46 SMC, Fences, Hedges and Walls. ... ... B. Modifications to Fence Height Standards. The planning commission may modify the fence height standards referenced in subsection (A) of this section, subject to the approval of a use permit (SMC 19.54.040) and in compliance with the provisions of this section.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025).

Full Breakdown

03, Land Use Permit Requirements, exempts them outright. 46 SMC, Fences, Hedges and Walls, so an ordinary fence built to code needs no zoning entitlement, only a building permit if one otherwise applies. 46 then sets the height ceiling that keeps a fence in that exempt category. Table 4-3 caps fences, hedges and walls other than retaining walls at 7 feet along rear and interior side setbacks, with an extra foot allowed (to 8 feet total) if everything above 7 feet is open grillwork or lattice letting light and air through at least 40 percent of the material.

5 feet, and fences at street and driveway intersections drop to 30 inches if solid, or can reach normal height only if built 75 percent open. 030(C). 060(A).

Violations & Fines

Building an over-height fence without the required use permit is a development code violation the city can pursue through Title 19 code enforcement, which can require the fence be lowered or removed to bring it back within Table 4-3's limits. Barbed wire, razor wire or electrified fencing installed in a residential zone, or against a residential neighbor, without the limited commercial use-permit exception is prohibited outright under § 19.46.080 and subject to removal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can I build a fence in my City of Sonoma backyard without a permit?
Up to 7 feet along your rear and interior side property lines, or 8 feet if everything above 7 feet is open lattice or grillwork letting light through at least 40 percent, under Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.46.030 and Table 4-3. Front and street-side fences are capped at 3.5 feet. Stay within those limits and § 19.03.030(B)(2) exempts you from any land use permit.
What if I want a fence taller than the code allows?
You need a use permit approved by the Sonoma planning commission under § 19.46.030(B). The commission must find the taller fence compatible with the site and surrounding properties, properly located, a planned architectural feature rather than something that overwhelms the neighborhood, and safely built, per § 19.46.030(C).
Can I put up a chain-link or barbed-wire fence around my Sonoma property?
Barbed wire, electrified and razor-wire fencing are prohibited on residential property and on commercial property next to a residential zone under § 19.46.080(A). Chain-link is barred within a required setback facing a public street on residential property, though it can be used elsewhere on the lot.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sonoma

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsHeight LimitsSome RestrictionsRetaining WallsSome RestrictionsMaterial RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSignificant RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Native PlantsFew RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Weed OrdinancesSome Restrictions

All Sonoma rules

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Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Sonoma County handle fence permit requirements.

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