For most back yard fences in the City of Fresno, no building permit is needed, but the fence still has to follow the city's Development Code. The Planning and Development Department handles both. Clovis, Madera, the smaller cities and the unincorporated county each have their own rules, and we check them for your address.
Do I need a permit to build or replace a fence?
The City of Fresno says fences not over 7 feet high are exempt from a building permit. They must still meet the zoning rules in Development Code section 15-2006, including setbacks and corner cut-offs. The same applies to a like-for-like replacement: no building permit at 7 feet or under, but the new fence has to meet the rules in force today. In unincorporated areas such as Easton, the Fresno County Department of Public Works and Planning is the office to ask.
How tall can my fence be? Is 6 feet allowed?
Yes, in side and rear yards. The city's published guidance says back yard and side yard fences cannot be over 6 feet, and a front yard fence cannot be over 3 feet, with some exceptions for iron fencing. Where there is a natural difference in grade between two lots, the city's handout allows a retaining wall and fence together to reach 7 feet measured from the lower side, with department approval. State law adds one more limit: a fence that unnecessarily exceeds 10 feet and was built out of malice to annoy a neighbor is a private nuisance (Civil Code section 841.4).
What about corner lots and fence materials?
Corner lots have a visibility triangle at the intersection where the city's handout holds fences to 3 feet, so drivers can see. The handout also lists what a fence may be made of. Wood, wrought iron, tubular steel, masonry, stucco and decorative concrete are allowed. Plywood, OSB, chicken wire, corrugated sheet and improvised materials such as doors or tarps are not. Chain link is restricted along major streets.
How close to the property line can I build? Do I need a survey?
Most boundary fences go on the line or a few inches inside it. A fence cannot go in the public right-of-way, and on many Fresno streets the city's strip runs behind the sidewalk into what looks like your lawn. If the boundary is not marked, or you and your neighbor disagree about it, order a plot plan or a survey before the first hole is dug. Only a licensed land surveyor can set the line.
I live in a historic district. What can I build?
Ask the Planning and Development Department before choosing a design. Fresno has designated historic properties and districts, and work that can be seen from the street may be reviewed by the city's historic preservation staff. We do not guess at this. We ask for the rule that applies to your address.
Can my condo association or HOA restrict my fence?
Yes. Associations in the newer tracts of north Fresno and Clovis commonly control fence height, material and color, and their rules sit on top of the city's. Get the approval in writing before you order anything.
We are adding a pool. What fence does code require?
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act applies. When a permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool or spa at a single-family home, at least two of seven listed safety features are required (Health and Safety Code section 115922). An enclosure is one of them, and section 115923 defines it: at least 60 inches high, no more than 2 inches of clearance at the bottom, no gap that passes a 4-inch sphere, and no handholds or footholds on the outside for a child under five. Gates open away from the pool and close and latch on their own, with the latch at least 60 inches above the ground. Your building department inspects it and may require more.
The inspector failed my existing fence for the pool. Who brings it up to code?
A fence contractor can. The usual fixes are a gate that shuts and latches without help, a latch moved up to the required height, a gate turned so it swings away from the water, a bottom gap closed, and short or climbable sections replaced. Send us the correction notice and we will price exactly what it lists.
My association only allows a 4-foot open fence, but I want privacy. What are my options?
Work inside the rules first. Planting a hedge or vines behind the 4-foot open fence is the simplest route. A taller screen close to the patio may be treated differently from a boundary fence, so ask. If neither is allowed, put a variance request to the board in writing. Check your plot plan for easements too. Irrigation district pipelines and utility easements cross many valley lots, and a fence over one may have to be removable.
Who calls 811 before digging, me or the contractor?
Whoever is doing the digging. Fresno is served by USA North 811, the one-call center for Central and Northern California. It asks for notice at least 2 working days before digging, not counting the day you call, and no more than 14 calendar days ahead. The dig area is to be marked in white first. When we build your fence, we open the ticket. Utilities mark only the lines they own. Sprinkler pipe, flood irrigation valves, well lines, septic lines and wiring to a shed or pool are yours, so show us where they run.
My contractor wants to skip the permit and reuse the old holes. What is the risk?
You carry it, because you own the property. Most fences here need no building permit, but if yours does, for example because it is over 7 feet or part of a pool barrier, the city can stop the work or have it changed. Old holes are a separate problem. If the old posts sat on top of hardpan, the new ones will fail the same way. In California, a job that needs a permit also needs a licensed contractor, whatever it costs.
The city says my existing fence breaks the current rules. Can I just repair it?
Call the Planning and Development Department before paying for work. Cities often let an older fence be maintained where a full rebuild would have to meet current height and material rules. That decision belongs to the city, and it is worth having in writing.
We only know the real price after we measure your yard. The estimate is free and comes in writing. Call (559) 719-6557 or text us a photo of the fence line.