Fences and walls in Chowchilla: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Chowchilla Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Chowchilla's code says

Chowchilla code What Chowchilla's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences, walls and hedges up to 7 feet. Applies: R-L and R-M zones, outside the required front yard and more than 5 feet from a street side line on corner or cul-de-sac lots. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted, except that in a required front yard or within five feet of a street side property line on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height. Fences, walls and hedges up to 7 feet. Applies: R-MH, R-H, O and PF zones, outside the required front yard and the required side yard on corner or cul-de-sac lots. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted except that in a required front yard, or a required side yard on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height except as allowed by subsections (2) and (4) below.
Front yard height	Up to 7 feet for a decorative open wrought iron or tubular steel fence, not chain link. Applies: Multi-family uses in R-MH, R-H, O and PF zones, along or within the front and street side yard setback areas. § 18.50.120 · code text A decorative open metal fence of wrought iron or tubular steel (not chain link) not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted along the front and street side property lines or within the front yard and street side yard setback areas of multi-family uses. No more than 4 feet in the required front yard. Applies: R-L and R-M zones. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted, except that in a required front yard or within five feet of a street side property line on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height. No more than 4 feet in the required front yard. Applies: R-MH, R-H, O and PF zones. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted except that in a required front yard, or a required side yard on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height except as allowed by subsections (2) and (4) below.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 4 feet in the required side yard. Applies: Corner or cul-de-sac lots in R-MH, R-H, O and PF zones. § 18.50.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges not exceeding seven feet in height shall be permitted except that in a required front yard, or a required side yard on a corner or side on cul-de-sac lot, a fence, wall or hedge shall not exceed four feet in height except as allowed by subsections (2) and (4) below.
Permit	A building permit is required for a masonry fence over 3 feet. Applies: Masonry fences taller than 3 feet. Engineered footings are also required. § 18.50.110 · code text A masonry fence exceeding three feet in height shall require engineered footings and a building permit. A building permit is required for other fencing over 7 feet. Applies: Fencing that is not masonry and is taller than 7 feet. Engineered post footings are also required. § 18.50.110 · code text All other fencing exceeding seven feet in height shall require engineered post footings and a building permit.

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Chowchilla?

Fences are limited to 4 feet in required front yards and 7 feet outside them; masonry fences over 3 feet need a building permit.

Fences and walls in Chowchilla

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What Chowchilla's code says

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