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Santa Barbara is a coastal city on the South Coast of Santa Barbara County, between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains.
Fence services in Santa Barbara
What to know before you hire in Santa Barbara
Permit: In the City of Santa Barbara, residential fences and walls 3.5 feet or lower are exempt from a building permit. Taller fences generally need one. Retaining walls and other walls up to 4 feet are exempt, with limits. A front yard fence or wall over 3.5 feet also goes to the Single Family Design Board. The city's fee schedule was not confirmed. Call the Permit Center before you sign a contract.
- Within 10 feet of the front lot line, fences and walls are limited to 3.5 feet. Screens and hedges can be 8 feet there.
- Within front setbacks (10 to 35 feet in residential zones) and interior setbacks (5 to 15 feet), fences, walls and hedges are limited to 8 feet.
- The city can approve taller fences in some cases. In interior setbacks a fence or wall can go up to 4 feet over the limit with administrative approval. Pool security fences are one reason the city lists for an exception.
- Height is measured from the lowest point of ground next to either side of the fence to its top. A fence on a retaining wall counts the part of the wall above grade as fence height.
- Near a driveway, nothing over 3.5 feet can sit in a triangle 10 feet along the driveway and 10 feet back from the front lot line. With no sidewalk or parkway, the triangle is 20 feet by 10 feet.
- On corner lots, Public Works staff decide fence height and location case by case inside the required intersection sight distance.
- A wall, fence or gate in the front yard taller than 3.5 feet needs Single Family Design Board review. Retaining walls 6 feet or taller also go to that board.
- In the El Pueblo Viejo and Brinkerhoff Avenue landmark districts, exterior changes, including landscaping that affects the look of the property, need Historic Landmarks Commission approval.
What holds up in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara has a Mediterranean climate with wet winters and dry summers. Dry offshore winds called sundowners blow down the mountain slopes, often near sunset.
- Wrought iron or steel picket fence. Open fences fit the 3.5 foot front limit and the city likes see-through elements on tall fences.
- Wood privacy fence. Common on side and rear lines up to the 8 foot setback limit, but it needs regular sealing.
- Masonry or stucco wall. Walls up to 4 feet are exempt from a building permit with limits. Taller ones need permits.
- Pool safety fence and self-closing gate. California law sets pool barrier basics, and the city lists pool fences as a reason for an exception.
- Fence on a retaining wall. Hillside lots are common, and the wall counts toward the fence height.
Questions Santa Barbara homeowners ask
How tall can my front yard fence be in Santa Barbara?
Within 10 feet of the front lot line, fences and walls are limited to 3.5 feet. Hedges can be 8 feet. The city can approve more in some cases.
How tall can side and back fences be?
Inside the setbacks the limit is 8 feet. With city approval a fence can go up to 4 feet higher in interior setbacks.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Santa Barbara?
Fences and walls 3.5 feet or lower are exempt. Taller ones generally need a building permit. Call the Permit Center to be sure.
Do front yard fences need design review?
A wall, fence or gate in the front yard taller than 3.5 feet goes to the Single Family Design Board.
Does the Coastal Zone change anything?
It might. The city lists fences on an existing single-family home as exempt unless the work risks harm to the environment. Ask the city if your address is in the zone.
What is the corner lot rule?
Public Works decides height and location case by case inside the intersection sight distance. Near driveways, nothing over 3.5 feet can sit in the sight triangle.
Are there fire rules for fences?
Parts of the city are in the High Fire Hazard Area. No fence-specific ban was found, but ask the city fire office about materials near the house.
Do I need a licensed contractor?
For jobs of $500 or more, California requires a license. Fence contractors hold a C-13. You can check a license on the CSLB site.
Areas we serve
Santa Barbara and nearby: Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria, Hope Ranch. See the service area