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Fences and walls in Los Gatos

Fences, walls, gates and hedges are limited to 3 feet in required street-side front or side yards and in driveway, traffic, corner sight areas.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Fences, walls, gates and hedges are limited to 3 feet in required street-side front or side yards and in driveway, traffic, corner sight areas.

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

What Los Gatos's code says

Los Gatos code What Los Gatos's code adds
Corner visibility
  • Fences, walls, gates and hedges may not exceed 3 feet in height.
    Applies: Required front or side yards next to a street, and driveway view, traffic view and corner sight areas, unless an exception is granted.
    § 29.40.0315 · code text
    Fences, walls, gates, and hedges may not exceed three (3) feet in height when located within a required front or side yard abutting a street (as required by the zone), driveway view area, traffic view area, or corner sight triangle unless an exception is granted by the Town Engineer and Community Development Director.
  • More than 3 feet high is prohibited without a permit.
    Applies: Applies in a traffic view area: within 15 feet of a public street and within 200 feet of an intersection's right-of-way line.
    § 23.10.080 · code text
    No person shall build, or keep in place, a fence, wall, hedge or shrub more than three (3) feet high in a traffic view area unless the person has a permit to do so from the Town Engineer.
  • Fences, walls, hedges and shrubs can be at most 3 feet tall.
    Applies: In a traffic view area: within 15 feet of a public street and 200 feet of an intersection. Taller needs a Town Engineer permit.
    § 23.10.080 · code text
    No person shall build, or keep in place, a fence, wall, hedge or shrub more than three (3) feet high in a traffic view area unless the person has a permit to do so from the Town Engineer.
Permit
  • Yes. A Town Engineer permit is needed for a fence, wall, hedge or shrub over 3 feet tall.
    Applies: In a traffic view area.
    § 23.10.080 · code text
    No person shall build, or keep in place, a fence, wall, hedge or shrub more than three (3) feet high in a traffic view area unless the person has a permit to do so from the Town Engineer.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Los Gatos?

Fences, walls, gates and hedges are limited to 3 feet in required street-side front or side yards and in driveway, traffic, corner sight areas.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Los Gatos property

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Los Gatos Municipal Code — full text