Fences and walls in Santa Clara County: the local rules

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

What Santa Clara County's code says

Santa Clara County code What Santa Clara County's code adds
Corner visibility	No higher than 3 feet in the 40-foot street-corner sight triangle, or 20-foot triangle by a key lot. Applies: Corner lots in urban residential districts. § 4.20.050 · code text On corner lots, fences or hedges along the exterior side lot line (or edge of side right-of-way) may be as tall as eight feet, except that a three-foot height limitation shall apply within the following areas: (a) within the 40-foot sight clearance triangle defined by Section B17-69 of the County Ordinance Code, which relates to vehicular sight clearance on intersecting streets, and (b) within a 20-foot sight clearance triangle where the rear of a corner lot abuts the front and side yards of a key lot. No higher than 3 feet within a triangle with two 20-foot sides. Applies: Fences near driveways in rural districts; design review approval may allow more height. § 4.20.050 · code text Within a triangle formed by two 20-foot sides measured from the point of intersection along the edge of pavement and the edge of driveway, no fence may exceed three feet in height, unless design review approval is obtained under Chapter 5.50.
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences up to 8 feet. Applies: Urban residential districts, more than 20 feet from the front lot line; corner-lot limits apply; does not apply to hedges. § 4.20.050 · code text Fences shall not exceed eight feet in height within any other portion of a lot, except as specified in Subsection 3 below. Fences up to 8 feet. Applies: Rural districts, outside the street and driveway areas; does not apply to hedges. § 4.20.050 · code text Fences not exceeding eight feet in height may occupy any portion of a lot other than the restricted areas described in subparagraphs (1) and (2), above.
Front yard height	Fences or hedges no higher than 3 feet. Applies: Urban residential districts, within 20 feet of the front lot line or edge of front right-of-way. § 4.20.050 · code text Fences or hedges shall not exceed three feet in height within any portion of a lot within 20 feet of the front lot line (or edge of front right-of-way). Fences or hedges up to 6 feet. Applies: Rural districts, within 20 feet of the edge of any street right-of-way. § 4.20.050 · code text Fences or hedges not exceeding six feet in height may occupy any portion of a lot within 20 feet of the edge of any street right-of-way.

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Santa Clara County?

Urban residential fences are limited to 3 feet within 20 feet of the front lot line and 8 feet elsewhere on the lot.

Fences and walls in Santa Clara County

Key points

What Santa Clara County's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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