San Jose allows privacy fences up to 6 feet in side and rear yards without a permit. Front yard fences are limited to 3 feet. Fences over 7 feet require both a planning and building permit. The finished side must face outward.
San Jose regulates fence heights by location on the property per the Zoning Code (Title 20) and the Building Code Bulletin on Fence & Retaining Wall Requirements. Front yard fences (between the front property line and the front building line) are limited to 3 feet maximum. Side yard and rear yard fences can be up to 6 feet without a permit and up to 7 feet with a building permit. Fences exceeding 7 feet require both a planning permit and a building permit with plan review. Corner lots must maintain a sight distance triangle — typically no fence over 3 feet within 10 feet of the intersection of property lines. Retaining walls combined with fences are measured from the lower grade. Pool fences must be at least 5 feet high per California Building Code §3109 and have a self-closing, self-latching gate. Materials must be durable; the finished or better-looking side must face the adjacent property.
Building without required permits: stop-work order and administrative citation. Non-compliant fences may need to be modified or removed.
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San Jose, CA
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