No permit is required for walls, fences, or hedges under 7 feet measured from grade. A building permit is required for fences over 7 feet, and for any gate on a multi-family lot that crosses a driveway, fire lane, or sidewalk access.
Per the Union City Planning Division and UCMC Chapter 18.32, walls, fences, and hedges under 7 feet in height as measured from grade do not require a permit. A building permit is required for any wall or fence over 7 feet, and for any gate on a multi-family residential lot that crosses a driveway, fire lane, or sidewalk access. Such gates must comply with all ADA and Fire Department access requirements. Adding an 18-inch lattice above a 6-foot fence also requires Director approval and a building permit. Retaining walls (as defined by the California Building Code) and sound walls are reviewed separately and are not covered by the fence handout.
Building a fence over 7 feet, or a qualifying multi-family gate, without the required building permit can require permitting after the fact, correction, or removal.
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