Article I — Wall and Fence Regulations

A. Applicability. The regulations in this article apply to walls and fences on residential or nonresidential property. These regulations do not apply to sound walls along arterial streets.

B. Measurement of height of fences and walls. The height of a wall or fence is measured from the highest point of the fence or wall to the adjacent finish grade. Where the finish grades differ on each side of the wall or fence, such as when the wall or fence is also used as a soil retaining structure, the height is measured from the higher adjacent finish grade.

C. Clear zones; driveways within setbacks on local streets. On local streets, notwithstanding sections

17.620.110.A.1 and A.2, a wall or fence, including those constructed with tubular steel or wrought iron, may not exceed 3.5 feet in height within the triangular areas next to the intersection of the driveway and the front-yard or the street side-yard curb. This triangular area, as shown in Exhibit A, is defined by the following three lines: (1) the edge of the driveway that meets the right-of-way; (2) either the back of the sidewalk or the right-of-way line closest to the driveway, whichever is furthest from the street centerline; and (3) a line connecting the following two points: (i) the point on the back of sidewalk or the right-of-way line, whichever is furthest from the street centerline, that is 10 feet from the edge of the driveway, and (ii) the point along the edge of the driveway 10 feet from the back of the sidewalk or the right-of-way line, whichever is furthest from the street centerline. The back of the sidewalk is the edge of the sidewalk furthest from the street centerline.

Exhibit A

D. Maintenance. Maintenance of the wall or fence is the responsibility of the owner of the property on which the fence or wall is located.

E. Nonconforming wall or fence. A property owner may repair, maintain, or replace in the same location a wall or fence that does not conform to these regulations if the wall or fence was constructed prior to February 14, 1980. (Ord. 2021-0024 § 34; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

The regulations in this section apply to walls and fences for single-unit, duplex, and multi-unit dwelling developments.

A. Front yards and street side yards. Walls or fences not exceeding 4 feet in height may be placed along the front and street side property lines or within the front-yard and street side-yard setback areas, subject to the following exceptions.

1. Exception-Welded-metal fences. A decorative, open wrought-iron or tubular-steel fence not exceeding 6 feet in height may be placed along the front and street side property lines or within the front-yard and street side-yard setback areas.

a. This exception does not authorize solid walls or fences composed of chain link, woven wire, wood, or materials other than open wrought iron or tubular steel.

b. A post or pilaster, consisting of masonry, brick, or other solid material, not exceeding 18 inches square and 6 feet tall, may be used to support a wrought iron or tubular steel fence at a minimum distance between posts of 6 feet.

2. Exception-Chain link and woven-wire fences. Chain link and woven-wire fences are prohibited within the front-yard and street side-yard setback areas.

3. Exception-Street side-yard setback area.

a. Fence location. A fence or wall not exceeding 6 feet in height may be placed within the street side-yard setback area if it is either located at least five feet from the street side property line or is placed on a line parallel to the street and that represents the extension of the wall of the main building that is nearest to the street.

b. Landscaping requirement. Climbing vines, shrubs, or trees shall be planted along the base of that portion of the wall or fence that fronts a public street. The remaining setback area between the wall or fence and property line shall be landscaped with grass or other low groundcover. All plants shall be properly irrigated and maintained. Only living vegetation may be used to meet the landscaping requirements.

4. Exception-Gate feature. A decorative gateway feature is permitted if the feature has a maximum height of 10 feet, a maximum length of 8 feet, and a maximum width of 24 inches.

• B. Rear yard and interior side yard.

1. Except as provided in subparagraphs a and b below, a wall or fence not exceeding 6 feet in height may be placed along the rear or interior side property lines or within the rear or interior side yard setback area.

a. A wall or fence not exceeding 8 feet in height may be placed along a rear or interior side property line that abuts a school, park, alley, or other nonresidential use.

b. A development abutting a freeway or railroad may construct a solid wall up to 12 feet in height for purposes of sound attenuation. The wall shall comply with the development standards for sound walls in article III.

2. A decorative gateway feature is permitted as long as the feature has a maximum height of 10 feet, a maximum length of 8 feet, and a maximum width of 24 inches.

3. Fences exceeding 6 feet in height are allowed outside the required rear-yard and interior side-yard setback

areas.

• C. Multi-unit dwelling-Wall requirement.

1. A multi-unit dwelling located on a single parcel shall provide a minimum of 6-foot high solid wall of masonry, brick, or similar material along all property lines that border the on-site parking lot and which abut a single-unit dwelling, duplex dwelling, or a lot within any of the zoning districts in chapter 17.204.

2. The 6-foot wall shall not extend into any required front-yard or street side-yard setback of the multi-unit dwelling development or adjacent residential development.

3. The height of the wall in the front-yard or street side-yard setback area shall comply with subsection A of this section.

D. Concertina wire; barbed wire.

1. Concertina wire, serpentine wire, barbed wire, razor wire, and other similar fencing materials capable of inflicting significant physical injury is prohibited, unless required by court order or allowed pursuant to subsection D.2.

2. A site plan and design review deviation under article I of chapter 17.808 to allow use of these fencing materials may be approved if the decision maker finds that use of these fencing materials is reasonably necessary to protect persons or property and will not constitute a safety hazard to members of the public conducting themselves in a lawful manner.

3. These fencing materials shall not protrude into or over the public right-of-way. (Ord. 2019-0006 § 14; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

The following regulations apply to walls and fences for nonresidential development:

• A. Parcel abutting residential zone or use.

1. A development, improvement, or use of a site for other than residential purposes shall provide a minimum 6- foot high solid wall of masonry, brick, or similar material along all property lines which abut a residential zone or use.

2. The wall shall not extend into any front yard or street side yard setback area, or beyond the required setbacks of the abutting residential zone or use.

3. If the development is separated from a residential zone or residence by an alley, no wall or fence is required.

4. Front and street side yard. A wall or fence in the front-yard or street side-yard setback area shall comply with the residential requirements for a wall or fence in section 17.620.110.A.

• B. Wall or fence adjacent to public street or public right-of-way.

1. If a wall or fence is placed adjacent to a paved area or parking lot adjoining a public street or public right-ofway, a minimum 4-foot wide (excluding concrete curbs) landscaped and irrigated planting strip composed of climbing vines, shrubs, or trees is required along the base of that portion of the wall or fence that fronts the public street or public right-of-way.

2. If at least 75% of the wall or fence is transparent, the planting strip may be located inside the wall or fence. Otherwise, the planting strip shall be located between the public street or right-of-way and the wall or fence. Such landscaping shall be properly irrigated and maintained.

• (Ord. 2024-0017 § 61; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

• A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to—

1. Protect private property from trespass and theft;

2. Ensure the public is not physically injured by fence materials; and

3. Maintain or improve the aesthetic quality and character of neighborhoods by establishing appropriate locations for fence and wall materials that, by functional design, are prominently visible.

• B. Barbed wire, concertina wire, woven wire, and other similar materials.

1. Barbed wire, concertina wire, woven wire, and other similar fencing materials capable of inflicting significant physical injury, excluding electrified fencing (which is addressed in subsection C below), are allowed only in the M-1, M-1(S), M-2, and M-2(S) zones, if they are located at a height of 6 feet or more above grade. These fence materials are prohibited in all other zones.

2. Site plan and design review shall not be granted for a deviation from the height standard set forth in this subsection B unless the decisionmaker finds the property has unique physical characteristics that prevent strict compliance with this section.

• C. Electrified fencing. An administrative permit for electrified fencing will be granted if it complies with the following:

1. Location. Electrified fencing is allowed only in the M-1, M-1(S), M-2, and M-2(S) zones.

2. Standards. Electrified fencing must comply with the following:

• a. Electric fence height. Maximum height is 10 feet.

• b. Perimeter fence or wall.

• i. Height. Except as required by subsection C.2.c below, and for vehicle access gates along roadways,

• electrified fencing must be surrounded by a non-electrified fence or wall at least 6 feet in height.

• ii. Setback.

1. An electric fence must be set back a minimum of 12 inches from any opening of 3 inches or less in the perimeter fence or wall.

2. An electric fence must be set back a minimum of 36 inches from any opening greater than 3 inches in the perimeter fence or wall.

• c. Adjacent to residential zones or uses or schools. When abutting residentially-zoned property, residential uses,

or school uses, a solid masonry, brick, or similar material perimeter wall of 8 feet in height is required.

• d. Existing barbed wire, concertina wire, and other similar fencing materials capable of inflicting significant physical injury must be removed before completing installation of an electrified fence.

• e. Electrical standards. All electrified fences must conform to the following standards:

• i. International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards for electric fence energizers; and

• ii. California Electrical Code (CEC).

• f. Electrification.

i. Energizers for electrified fences must be powered by a commercial storage battery not to exceed 12 volts

DC. The building official may approve a source of equal or less power.

ii. Electric charges produced by electrified fencing must not, upon contact, exceed the energizer characteristics set forth in the IEC standard for electric fence energizers.

iii. Non-low voltage electrical components (e.g., controllers, transformers) of the electric fencing system must be approved and listed by an Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).

• g. Warning signs. Electrified fencing must be identified with signage conforming to the following:

• i. Have a minimum dimension of 9 inches by 12 inches;

ii. Be placed at intervals not greater than 30 feet on both the inside and outside of the fence; and

iii. Read "Warning! Electric Fence" in English along with the international electrical safety symbol for voltage or shock hazard. Sign content may, in addition to English, also be provided in other languages.

h. Emergency access. Access through the electrified fencing must be provided to first responders (e.g., police, fire, etc.) as follows:

i. A "Knox Box" or other similar approved device must be installed in locations approved by the building official;

ii. A means to disconnect electrical power to the fence must be readily available, as determined by the building official;

iii. Disconnect switches and controls must be in an accessible location on the property and may not be obscured in any manner from the street or private driveway access;

iv. Signage must be provided identifying disconnect switches and controls in addition to instructions for disabling the electrical system; and

i. Access By First Responders.

i. By accepting a permit for an electrified fence, the owner and its assigns agree to the following: If emergency access features required by Sacramento City Code section 17.620.130 are absent or non-functional, and an owner, manager, employee, custodian, or any other person with control over the property is not present, or refuses to or is unable to disable the electrified fence, the permittee authorizes first responders, including the police and fire departments, to disable the electric fence to gain access to the property. Permittee further agrees to waive all claims for damages to the electrified fence against the city and its personnel under such circumstances.

ii. The language in subsection C.2.i.i above will be stated on the permit. (Ord. 2024-0017 § 62)