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

Colusa County does not require a separate zoning or planning permit to build an ordinary fence in the unincorporated area; the Zoning Code (Chapter 44) contains no fence-permit section. Whether a building permit is required is governed by the statewide California Residential Code (CRC), which the county adopts and administers through its Building Code (County Code Chapter 5). Under CRC Section R105.2 (Work exempt from permit), a fence not over 7 feet in height does not require a building permit. A fence over 7 feet tall, or one that incorporates a retaining wall over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, generally does require a building permit and may need engineered plans. Permits are issued by the Colusa County Building Division, located with the Community Development Department at 1213 Market Street, Colusa, with applications handled through the county's online permit portal. Pool-enclosure fences are separately regulated by the state Swimming Pool Safety Act and the CRC. The cities of Colusa and Williams run their own permit programs, so this applies only to unincorporated county land.