What's Required in Sacramento
- Fences not over 7 feet high need no building permit.
- Every fence must meet the zoning standards in City Code Chapter 17.620, Wall, Fence and Gate Regulations.
- Fences taller than 7 feet need a building permit priced on the valuation-based fee schedule.
- Retaining walls over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing, or supporting a surcharge, need a building permit.
- Building permit exemptions do not apply in design review or preservation districts or at landmarks.
- Pool barrier fences must be at least 60 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates.
- An electrified fence needs an administrative permit from Planning.
Do you need a permit to build a fence in Sacramento?
Not a building permit for an ordinary fence. The City of Sacramento Building Division lists fences not over 7 feet high as work exempt from a building permit, and the Planning Division’s zoning FAQ repeats that fences under 7 feet do not need one. The exemption comes with a footnote that matters: all proposed fencing is subject to Planning Division approval and the standards in City Code Chapter 17.620, Wall, Fence and Gate Regulations. So a backyard fence under the 7-foot line skips the Building Division, but it still has to meet the height, location and street-side rules in Chapter 17.620. Two more limits: the building exemptions do not apply in a design review or preservation district or on a landmark property, and a retaining wall is exempt only up to 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing, and only if it is not supporting a surcharge (extra load from above, such as a driveway or sloped ground).
How tall can a fence be in Sacramento?
For the building code, 7 feet is the line. For zoning, Chapter 17.620 sets the allowed heights by location (front yard, street side, interior side and rear), and the city points every fence question there. We could not retrieve the Chapter 17.620 text itself, so we do not state front-yard or street-side heights here: email [email protected] with your address before you buy materials (Planning says same-day replies are typical). Planning does not locate property lines; a licensed land surveyor does. If the fence is part of a pool barrier, the city’s pool requirements add their own rules: at least 60 inches high, no more than 2 inches of clearance at the bottom, no gaps a 4-inch sphere can pass, and self-closing gates with latches no lower than 60 inches.
How much does a fence permit cost in Sacramento?
Zero for a fence 7 feet or lower. A taller fence or a retaining wall over 4 feet needs a building permit priced on valuation (the contract price or the ICC value, whichever is higher). Example: a screen fence taller than 7 feet valued at $3,500 falls in the $3,999 row of the 2026 residential fee schedule: permit $179 + plan review $75 + technology $25.40 + General Plan $9.10 + green building $1 + strong motion $0.50 + contractor operations tax $1.40 = $291.40. If Planning reviews it as a new project, the fee sheet adds 15 percent of plan review with a $263 minimum, about $554 in all. Whether zoning allows the extra height at your location is a separate question for Planning. An electrified fence is an administrative permit type, $789 in the city fee database.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Wood, vinyl or chain-link fence 7 ft or lower | No building permit | Must still meet City Code Chapter 17.620 |
| Fence taller than 7 ft | Building permit (valuation-based) | Zoning height limits in 17.620 still apply |
| Retaining wall 4 ft or less, no surcharge | No building permit | Measured from the bottom of the footing |
| Retaining wall over 4 ft, or supporting a surcharge | Building permit | Exemption stops at 4 ft from the bottom of the footing |
| Any fence in a design review or preservation district | Planning review | Building exemptions do not apply there |
| Pool barrier fence | Part of the pool permit | 60 in minimum, self-closing gate, 2 in bottom gap |
| Electrified fence | Administrative permit, $789 | Planning Application Fee, Resolution 2026-0121 |
Outside city limits, Sacramento County’s Building Permits and Inspection Division handles fences through its own portal; its list also starts at fences over 7 feet. Use the Assessor Parcel Viewer to confirm which government your lot is in.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Sacramento
Confirm the city has jurisdiction
Use the Assessor Parcel Viewer; lots outside city limits go to Sacramento County Building Permits and Inspection.
Check Chapter 17.620
Email Planning with your address and fence plan to confirm the allowed height and placement for each side of the lot.
Locate the property line
Planning does not mark property lines, so use your survey or hire a licensed land surveyor before setting posts.
Apply only if over 7 feet
Fences over 7 feet and retaining walls over 4 feet need a building permit filed through the Public Permit Portal.
Build and keep records
Keep your Planning correspondence on file; if you pulled a permit, keep the permit on site and call for inspection before work is covered.