Fences under 7 feet do not require a building permit in Santa Clara County. Retaining walls over 4 feet require permits. Front-yard fences are limited to 3-4 feet depending on whether solid or open.
Under the California Building Code, fences not over 7 feet high do not require a building permit. This applies throughout Santa Clara County. Retaining walls over 4 feet require a permit and engineering. Masonry walls may require permits depending on height and structural design. Front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet (solid) or 4 feet (open). All fences must comply with sight-triangle requirements. Pool barriers must meet California Building Code requirements (minimum 60 inches with self-closing, self-latching gates). While no permit is required for most fences, all fences must comply with zoning setback and height requirements.
Non-compliant fences may be cited by code enforcement. Retaining walls built without permits may require retroactive permits, engineering review, and potential reconstruction.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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