§ 155.320.020 REQUIRED PERMITS AND APPROVALS.

   (A)   No department approval required. Fences and walls consistent with this section are permitted by-right without the need to obtain a zoning clearance or other Department approval, unless otherwise stated.

   (B)   Building permit. Fences and walls may require a building permit as required by California Building Code.

   (C)   Encroachment permit. Fences and walls in the public right-of-way require an encroachment permit approved by the Public Works Department.

(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19)

§ 155.320.030 MEASUREMENT OF FENCE AND WALL HEIGHT.

   (A)   Measurement of height.

      (1)   The height of a fence or wall is measured as the vertical distance from the highest finished grade at the base of the fence or wall to the top edge of the fence or wall. See Figure 320-1.

      (2)   Fence or wall height includes any materials directly attached to the fence or wall.

   (B)   Variable height fences. If the height of a fence varies due to features integral to the overall fence design, variable height elements of the fence may exceed the allowed height by a maximum of one-foot six-inches. See Figure 320-2.

      Figure 320-1: Measurement of Fence Height

      Figure 320-2: Variable Fence Height

   (C)   Fences on walls. If a fence is atop a wall, the fence height is measured from the base of the wall or the sidewalk, whichever results in a greater height, except as allowed by division (D) below.

   (D)   Different finished grades. If the adjacent finished grade is different on opposite sides of a fence or wall, the height is measured from the side with the highest finished grade to the highest point on the fence or wall.

(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19; Am. Ord. 902 C.-S., passed 8-18-20)

§ 155.320.040 MAXIMUM HEIGHT.

   (A)   Maximum height. Fences and walls may not exceed the maximum height shown in Table 320-1 and Figure 320-3.

Table 320-1: Allowed Fence Height
	Maximum Height [1] [3]
	Solid Fence	Open Fence [2]
Residential Zones
Front yard area between front building wall and front lot line	4 ft.	6 ft.
All other areas on lot	7 ft.	7 ft.
Mixed use zones - any location on lot	8 ft. [4]	8 ft.
Industrial, public facilities, and resource related zones - any location on lot	12 ft.	12 ft.
Notes: [1] Fences exceeding 7 feet require a Building Permit and engineered plans. [2] Open fences must utilize decorative masonry, ornamental steel or wrought iron, aluminum, brick, stone, or wood, and be at least 70% open to the passage of light and air. Chain link and other woven wire fence materials smaller than 6 gauge are not allowed between a building and the street in the residential and mixed-use zoning districts. [3] See § 155.308.040 (Vision Clearance Area) for height limitations at street intersections and when adjacent to driveways and alleys. [4] Solid fences taller than 3' (36") are not allowed between a building and the street in a mixed-use zone district.

 

Figure 320-3: Allowed Fence Height - Residential Zoning Districts

   (B)   Vision clearance area. Walls and fences shall comply with the vision clearance area requirements in § 155.308.040 (Vision Clearance Area).

(Ord. 885-C.S., passed 5-21-19; Am. Ord. 902 C.-S., passed 8-18-20; Am. Ord. 951-C.S., passed 10-17-23)