San Francisco allows privacy fences up to 6 feet in rear yards and 3 feet in front yards. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit from DBI. Section 311 neighborhood notification may apply to fence permits in some cases.
San Francisco's Planning Code and Building Code regulate fence construction. Residential fences in rear yards may be up to 6 feet without a permit. Front yard fences are limited to 3 feet (3.5 feet in some districts). Side yard fences between the front setback and the rear can be up to 6 feet. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit from the Department of Building Inspection (DBI). Some fence permits may trigger Section 311 neighborhood notification, which requires mailing notices to neighbors within 150 feet. Neighbors have 30 days to request a Discretionary Review hearing before the Planning Commission. Pool fences must be at least 5 feet high per California Building Code §3109. Materials must be appropriate for the neighborhood character, especially in historic districts or Residential Design Guidelines areas.
Building without permit: penalties up to 9x the permit fee. Non-compliant fences may receive a Notice of Violation.
San Francisco, CA
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San Francisco, CA
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San Francisco, CA
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San Francisco, CA
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San Francisco, CA
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San Francisco, CA
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See how San Francisco's privacy screening rules stack up against other locations.
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