PJR-133 Fence Guidelines

All fences must be located at least 6-inches outside of public rights-of-way and easements. Fences may be allowed within or outside of setback areas, however, the location of a fence determines the allowed height and permit requirements.

Safe Sight Distance

• The height of a fence along a roadway or driveway can affect the sight distance of drivers and result in unsafe conditions. Sight distance refers to the length of a roadway that is visible to a driver.
• Solid fences, or fences that are too tall or opaque, can impede a driver’s ability to see around turns, past driveways, or through intersections.
• The County’s fence regulations account for safe sight distance through standards for height and fence design.

Measurement of Fence Height

• Height is measured from the lowest existing grade to the topmost point of the fence or similar structure. Height measurement includes gates, lattice, posts, arbors, and/or other similar features.
• For fences built on top of another fence, similar structure, or retaining wall, the combined height must not exceed the allowable fence height.

Residential and Recreation / Visitor-Serving Base Zoning Districts

• Fence height restrictions apply to residential zoning districts (R1, R2, R3, AR and RR) and the K zoning district when a fence is located within a required setback area.
• There are no height restrictions for fences built outside of setback areas. Other requirements, such as Administrative Design Review, may still apply.
• Fences within setback areas that comply with height limits may still need a permit based on fence design.
• Height restrictions for fences within setback areas may be exceeded with Design Review Committee (DRC) approval.
• Height restrictions for qualifying agricultural fences in the AR and RR zoning districts may be exceeded with Administrative Design Review (ADR).
• See the Design and Permit Requirements sections for more information.
• Fences that comply with height limits may still need a permit based on fence design. See the Design and Permit Requirements sections for more information.
• Qualifying agricultural fences in the AR and RR may be 8 feet in height. See the Agricultural Fences section for more information.
• More information on Zoning Code Categories.

Zoning District & Yard Setbacks

* Fences that comply with height limits may still need a permit based on fence design. See the Design and Permit Requirements sections for more information.
**Qualifying agricultural fences in the AR and RR may be 8 feet in height. See the Agricultural Fences section  for more information. 

Agriculture and Resource Zoning Districts

• There are no setback or height restrictions for fences in the agricultural or resource zoning districts (LEA, LIA, DA, and RRD).
• However, if the property is zoned with the SR (Scenic Resources) combining district, Administrative Design Review is required for all fences, except qualifying agricultural fences. See the Permit Requirements and Agricultural Fences sections for more information.

Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts

• There are no setback or height restrictions for fences in industrial and commercial zoning districts (CO, LC, C1, C2, C3, CR, AS, MP, M1, M2, and M3).
• However, Administrative Design Review is required for fences on properties with commercial or industrial land use or zoning. See the Permit Application Requirements section.

Fences in residential zoning districts and the Recreation and Visitor Serving (K) zoning district must comply with standards for materials. Fences in commercial, industrial, and agriculture and resource zoning districts do not have standards for materials, but material selection may be subject to approval during the permitting process, as applicable.

Fence Materials in Residential and Recreation / Visitor-Serving Base Zoning Districts

• Fences must be composed of the following allowed materials. Exceptions to the list of allowed materials may be granted by the Design Review Committee, however, in no case will a prohibited material be permitted.

Solid vs. Open Fences

• Solid fences taller than 3 feet in height can impede a driver’s ability to see around turns, past driveways, or through intersections.
• Solid fences taller than 3 feet in height require a permit for County staff to review and ensure the fence complies with safe sight distance requirements. See Location and Height for more information on sight distance.
• Alternatively, open fences are not expected to impact safe sight distance and generally do not require a permit, provided the fence complies with other location, height, and design requirements. See Permit Requirements for details.
• The County measures the openness of a fence based on the percentage of the vertical surface area that allows for visibility through the structure.

Solid Fence

• Solid fences are fences where less than 90% of the vertical surface area allows for visibility through the structure.

Open Fence

• Open fences are fences where at least 90% of the vertical surface area allows for visibility through the structure, while the remaining 10% or less is opaque.

Agricultural fences are fences associated with an existing or proposed agricultural production use. Agricultural fences are allowed anywhere that agricultural production is allowed, however, the location and design of the agricultural fence determines permit requirements.

Exempt Agricultural Fences

• Agricultural fences located in certain residential districts (AR and RR) or the Scenic Resource (SR) combining district that meet the following requirements do not require a permit and are not subject to design review:
• No taller than 8-feet in height
• Composed of split-rail, pipe, and/or post and wire

Permit Requirements for Other Agricultural Fences

• Agricultural fences in AR or RR or the SR Combining District that do not meet the above standards are subject to Administrative Design Review.
• Agricultural fences in other base zoning districts do not require a permit. See Permit Requirements.

The following summary describes the type of permit needed based on fence location, height, and design. 

For the table below, if the front property line setback (20ft) is more restrictive than the road centerline setback (45ft), the front property line setback applies. Likewise, if the road centerline setback (45ft) is more restrictive than the front property line setback (20ft), the road centerline setback applies.

* All fences in the residential zoning districts (R1, R2, R3, AR and RR) and the K zoning district must be composed of allowed materials (see Design  for more information). Exceptions may be granted by the Design Review Committee, but in no case will a prohibited material be permitted.

Material Requirement Note

• All fences in the residential zoning districts (R1, R2, R3, AR and RR) and the K zoning district must be composed of allowed materials. Exceptions may be granted by the Design Review Committee, but in no case will a prohibited material be permitted.

Administrative Design Review Permit

• Administrative Design Review (ADR) is required for review of fence design to protect scenic resources, to confirm that the fence is located outside of public rights-of-way and easements, and/or to confirm that the fence complies with sight distance requirements.

Design Review with Hearing Permit

• Design Review Committee approval is required for exceptions to fence height, location, materials, and design. The Design Review Committee may only approve an exception to fence requirements if certain findings can be made:
• The proposed fence is located outside of public rights-of-way and easements
• The proposed fence design meets sight distance requirements
• The proposed fence design is compatible with the neighborhood and other surrounding uses and structures as determined by the average height, setbacks, and design of existing fences in the vicinity

Permit Application Requirements

• Design Review with Hearing (DRH) Permit application requirements are the same as those required for Administrative Design Review for a fence, although fees and processing procedures vary between the two.

Required Application Materials for All Fence Permits

• An application for fence design review shall submit the following information electronically via the Permit Sonoma Application Portal.
• PJR-001 - Planning Application
• PJR-011 - Indemnification Agreement
• PJR-095 – At Cost Agreement (only required for Design Review with Hearing applications)
• Site plan meeting the requirements of PJR-129, Site Plan Requirements for Planning Applications. The site plan must show the right-of-way, the centerline of the road, the edge of the road pavement, all property lines, location of required yard setback areas, and the proposed location of fence, all distinguished by line weight or color.
• Elevation showing the height and design of the fence.
• Graphic or photographic representation of proposed materials, finish, and colors.
• Photographs of the property, where the fence will be built (or fence as built, if the fence is existing).
• Landscaping plan, if landscaping is proposed, showing the use of native and fire-resistant plants.
• Filing fee. See the current Permit Sonoma Project Review Fee Schedule. Fees will be determined once the full scope of a project is evaluated by Permit Sonoma staff at the time of application submittal. If paying by check, please do not fill in amounts on checks prior to application acceptance.

Building Permits

• In addition to Planning Permits such as Administrative Design Review, a Building Permit may be required, depending on the height and construction of your fence.
• Building permits are required for:
  • fences that are taller than 10 feet in height, regardless of design.
  • solid wood, concrete, metal, and/or masonry fences that exceed 7 feet in height.
• Fences exceeding eight (8) feet in height must be designed by an architect or engineer. Below is an approved design for a max 8 foot fence.8-foot

• More information: BPC-005 When Is a Building Permit Not Required?

Scenic Resources (SR) Combining District

• Certain areas of Sonoma County with significant scenic resources have been designated as Scenic Resources (SR) in the Sonoma County General Plan and Zoning Ordinance to allow development while preserving scenic character.
• Scenic resources include Community Separators, Scenic Landscape Units, and Scenic Corridors.
• Structures may require screening by natural landforms and existing vegetation or native, fire-resistant plants.
• Additional building setbacks may be required for properties within designated Scenic Corridors.
• Administrative Design Review may be required within the Scenic Resources combining district, with exceptions for certain types of fences.

Local Guidelines (LG) Combining District

• Structures on properties within the LG combining district may require design review depending on the area.
• If local guidelines apply, they will be used to evaluate fence design in addition to criteria within the applicable SR designation.

Historic Combining District (HD)

• New structures require approval by the Sonoma County Landmarks Commission.

Floodway (F1) Combining District

• No fencing of any type is permitted in a floodway (designated by the F1 zoning district).

Riparian Corridor (RC) Combining District

• Riparian Corridor (RC) zoning designates streamside conservation areas along certain streams or waterways within the County.
• Structures and land disturbance within the specified conservation area, a setback measured from the top of bank, are generally prohibited to protect riparian resources.
• Fencing within an RC setback is limited to existing outdoor activity areas, such as yards, gardens, and landscaped or natural vegetation, associated with a legally established structure or use and not involving further encroachment into existing riparian vegetation.
• Fences within an RC setback may require a Zoning Permit and should be designed to be wildlife friendly, generally open fencing no taller than four feet.