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Mendocino County · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Mendocino County

County rule: view-obscuring fences and hedges are limited to 3½ ft in the required front yard and 8 ft elsewhere outside intersection visibility areas.

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Key points

  • Fence height: County rule: view-obscuring fences and hedges are limited to 3½ ft in the required front yard and 8 ft elsewhere outside intersection visibility areas.

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

What Mendocino County's code says

Mendocino County code What Mendocino County's code adds
Corner visibility
  • The Department of Transportation sets the size of the clear visibility area.
    Applies: Applies at intersections of streets, alleys and driveways.
    § 20.152.020 · code text
    At intersections of streets, alleys, and driveways within the clear visibility area | Consult Department of Transportation for required dimensions of clear visibility area
Height anywhere on the lot
  • View-blocking fences and hedges up to 8 feet high.
    Applies: All locations except the required front yard and the clear visibility area at intersections. Fences over 7 feet need a building permit.
    § 20.152.020 · code text
    All other locations on a lot or parcel except at intersections (see below) | 8 feet 1
Front yard height
  • View-blocking fences and hedges up to 3 1/2 feet high.
    Applies: Required front yard. Loose wire mesh fences that let 90% of light through have no height limit.
    § 20.152.020 · code text
    Required front yard | 3½ feet
Permit
  • A building permit is required for fences over 7 feet.
    Applies: Applies to fences over 7 feet.
    § 20.152.020 · code text
    Fences over seven (7) feet require a building permit.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Mendocino County?

County rule: view-obscuring fences and hedges are limited to 3½ ft in the required front yard and 8 ft elsewhere outside intersection visibility areas.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Mendocino County property

Ask GoCodebook how Mendocino County's fences and walls rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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