Fence, Wall, and Screening Guidelines

UNIFYING YOUR PROJECT AND COMMUNITY VISION

FENCE, WALL, AND SCREENING GUIDELINES Working together, we can successfully maintain safety and privacy of your project and our community. We’ve provided guidelines for your fence, wall and screening needs to ensure that you can get the approval you need to get rebuilding. We’re in this together, to ensure our entire community recovers right.

Additional information regarding the Santa Rosa rebuilding effort available online: SRCity.org/rebuild SonomaCountyRecovers.org

GUIDELINES 2 feet of lattice

Fences (including fences, hedges, walls, or structures in the nature of a fence) must be measured from the finished

HEIGHT EXCEPTIONS

grade at the base to the top edge. Fences on top of a wall will be measured from the base of the wall.

6 feet

N O T E A six-foot fence with two feet of lattice is allowed in an

Exceptions may be made to exceed the height restrictions, provided:

interior side or rear yard setback, and outside of a required front or street side setback. Any fence exceeding seven feet in height requires a Building Permit.

1 foot of lattice

1.

The issuance of the permit is reasonably necessary, by reason of unusual or special circumstances or conditions relating to the property, for the preservation

If there is a height difference from one side of the fence to

of valuable property rights or the full use and enjoyment of the property

the other, the fence will be measured from the lower side.

6 feet

A LT A six-foot fence with one foot of lattice can be constructed without permit.

2.

The fence will not create a safety hazard to pedestrians or vehicular traffic

3.

The appearance of the fence is compatible with the design and appearance of other existing buildings and structures within the neighborhood

4.

overwhelming the adjacent properties and structures

HEIGHT LIMITS Front setback measured from back of sidewalk or property line, whichever is more restrictive, in this illustration it is back of sidewalk.

Within required front yard setback

6 feet with 2 extra feet of lattice maximum height

Outside of a required setback

The orientation and location of the fence is in proper relation to the physical characteristics of the site and the surrounding neighborhood The fence will be of sound construction

N O T E Review of fences that exceed the allowed height will add time to your Building Permit

Within interior side or rear yard setback

36 inch maximum height

5.

6.

36 inch maximum height

Within exterior side setback

The fence is a planned architectural feature to avoid dominating the site or

approval process.

The Building Official shall not grant a building permit for any fence that will interfere with access in case of fire by the Fire Department to buildings in the vicinity, or that will

3’ maximum fence height permitted within front and side setbacks

constitute a hazard to vehicle traffic or pedestrians.

6 feet 2 extra feet of lattice maximum height Within a vision triangle 36 inch maximum height, with nothing over 24 inches in the first five feet behind the curb line

6’ maximum fence height outside front and side setbacks, except as provided by 20.30.060.C

Corner side setback Vision triangle setback

N O T E The boundaries of a vision triangle are formed by drawing lines from the point of intersection of a lot’s street corner property lines to points 30 feet along the two property lines, and then connecting the two points with a straight line.

30’ Front setback

For owners of Historic Properties, see the City’s Processing Review Procedures for Owners of Historic Properties for fence height guidelines with an H (Historic) combining district.

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30’

FENCE, WALL & SCREENING GUIDELINES

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TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE SURE YOUR PROJECT AND COMMUNITY REBUILD STRONGER AND SAFER.

FENCE, WALL & SCREENING GUIDELINES

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