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Santa Barbara · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Santa Barbara

Fences: at most 3.5 feet within 10 feet of the front lot line, 5 feet elsewhere in the front yard, 8 feet outside it.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Fences: at most 3.5 feet within 10 feet of the front lot line, 5 feet elsewhere in the front yard, 8 feet outside it.

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

What Santa Barbara's code says

Santa Barbara code What Santa Barbara's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No fence, wall, screen or hedge may block the sightlines needed for safe driving.
    Applies: Corner lots zoned A-1 to A-3, E-1 to E-3 or R-1 to R-4, in the intersection sight distance; not at all-way stops.
    § 28.87.170 · code text
    Within the required "Intersection Sight Distance," as depicted in the Fences, Screens, Walls and Hedges Guidelines, no fence or wall may obstruct the sightlines required for the safe operation of motor vehicles.
Height anywhere on the lot
  • No higher than 8 feet.
    Applies: Fences outside the front yard; up to 12 feet with a minor zoning exception.
    § 30.140.110 · code text
    Fence | 3.5 ft. | 5 ft. | 8 ft.
  • No higher than 8 feet.
    Applies: Fences/walls in required setbacks, zones A-1 to A-3, E-1 to E-3, R-1 to R-4; within 10 feet of front lot line: 3 1/2 feet.
    § 28.87.170 · code text
    Except as otherwise provided in this section, no fence or wall located in the required setbacks shall exceed a height of eight feet.
  • No higher than 8 feet.
    Applies: Screens and hedges in required setbacks on parcels zoned A-1 to A-3, E-1 to E-3 or R-1 to R-4.
    § 28.87.170 · code text
    Except as otherwise provided in this section, no screen or hedge located in the required setbacks shall exceed a height of eight feet.
Front yard height
  • No higher than 3.5 feet.
    Applies: Fences within 10 feet of the front lot line; up to 7.5 feet with a minor zoning exception.
    § 30.140.110 · code text
    Fence | 3.5 ft. | 5 ft. | 8 ft.
  • No higher than 5 feet.
    Applies: Front yard fences more than 10 feet from the front lot line; up to 12 feet with a minor zoning exception.
    § 30.140.110 · code text
    Fence | 3.5 ft. | 5 ft. | 8 ft.
  • No higher than 8 feet.
    Applies: Screens and hedges, not fences, within 10 feet of a front lot line; parcels zoned A-1 to A-3, E-1 to E-3 or R-1 to R-4.
    § 28.87.170 · code text
    Except as otherwise provided in this section, no screen or hedge located within 10 feet of a front lot line shall exceed a height of eight feet.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Santa Barbara?

Fences: at most 3.5 feet within 10 feet of the front lot line, 5 feet elsewhere in the front yard, 8 feet outside it.

General information, not legal advice.

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Santa Barbara Municipal Code — full text