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Gonzales · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Gonzales

Gonzales limits residential fences to 7 ft, and to 3 ft 6 in in the required front yard and street side yard.

Key points

  • Fence height: Gonzales limits residential fences to 7 ft, and to 3 ft 6 in in the required front yard and street side yard.

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

What Gonzales's code says

Gonzales code What Gonzales's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot
  • No more than 7 feet high.
    Applies: In residential zones, for fences, hedges and walls on or inside property lines, except where a lower limit applies.
    § 12.112.040 · code text
    In residential zones, fences, hedges, and walls not over seven feet (7') high are allowed on or within all property lines, subject to the following exceptions:
  • Up to 8 feet high.
    Applies: Only for boundary fences or walls next to commercial property, if most adjacent residential owners ask or agree, and with a building official permit.
    § 12.112.040 · code text
    Boundary line fences or walls adjacent to commercial property may be eight feet (8') high if requested or agreed upon by a majority of the adjacent residential property owners and a permit is secured from the building official.
Front yard height
  • At most 3 feet 6 inches.
    Applies: For fences, walls and hedges in the required front yard in residential zones.
    § 12.112.040 · code text
    Fencing, walls, and hedges shall be reduced to a maximum of three feet six inches (3'6") in height in the required front yard and side yard abutting a street.
Side and rear yard height
  • At most 3 feet 6 inches.
    Applies: For fences, walls and hedges in a side yard next to a street in residential zones.
    § 12.112.040 · code text
    Fencing, walls, and hedges shall be reduced to a maximum of three feet six inches (3'6") in height in the required front yard and side yard abutting a street.
  • May step up from 3 feet to 7 feet.
    Applies: Side yard fences in residential zones, as the planning director approves. Not on the street side yard of corner lots.
    § 12.112.040 · code text
    Side yard fence height may be graduated from three feet (3') to seven feet (7') as approved by the planning director, except on street side yard of corner lots.
  • At least 5 feet and no more than 7 feet high.
    Applies: Required to enclose rear and side yards when a building is built on an empty residential lot. Not in the front yard.
    § 12.112.040 · code text
    At the time of construction of a building on an unimproved lot or parcel zoned for residential use, a fence or wall, not less than five feet (5') or more than seven feet (7') shall be installed to enclose the rear and side yards.
Permit
  • A building permit is required for fences over 6 feet and masonry walls over 3 feet.
    Applies: Get it before construction, in residential zones.
    § 12.112.040 · code text
    Fences over six feet (6') and masonry walls over three feet (3') require building permits prior to construction.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Gonzales?

Gonzales limits residential fences to 7 ft, and to 3 ft 6 in in the required front yard and street side yard.

General information, not legal advice.

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