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Monte Sereno · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Monte Sereno

Monte Sereno limits fences to 3 ft in front yards and 6 ft in interior side and rear yards.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Monte Sereno limits fences to 3 ft in front yards and 6 ft in interior side and rear yards.

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

What Monte Sereno's code says

Monte Sereno code What Monte Sereno's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No higher than 3 feet.
    Applies: Within 10 feet of a side corner line in R-1-8, or 15 feet in R-1-20 and R-1-44; a permit may allow up to 6 feet.
    § 10.06.130 · code text
    No portion of any fence shall exceed a height of three (3) feet in any part of any front yard, within ten (10) feet of any side corner property line of a lot in the R-1-8 zoning district, or within fifteen (15) feet of any side corner property line of a lot in the R-1-20 and R-1 44 zoning district unless a site development permit has been approved in accordance with Chapter 8 of this Title
Front yard height
  • No higher than 3 feet.
    Applies: Any part of any front yard. A site development permit may allow more, but not over 6 feet.
    § 10.06.130 · code text
    No portion of any fence shall exceed a height of three (3) feet in any part of any front yard, within ten (10) feet of any side corner property line of a lot in the R-1-8 zoning district, or within fifteen (15) feet of any side corner property line of a lot in the R-1-20 and R-1 44 zoning district unless a site development permit has been approved in accordance with Chapter 8 of this Title
Side and rear yard height
  • Up to 6 feet; a solid wood fence may add up to 1 foot of lattice.
    Applies: Side interior and rear yards in every zoning district.
    § 10.06.130 · code text
    A fence height of up to six (6) feet, or a solid wooden fence not exceeding six (6) feet with up to one (1) foot of additional lattice, shall be permitted in the side interior yard and rear yard in each zoning district.
  • Up to 8 feet, with building permits and a fence design permit.
    Applies: Side interior, side corner or rear yard; only with a listed site condition, such as next to a school, church, commercial property or 10% slope.
    § 10.06.130 · code text
    A fence height up to eight (8) feet in any side interior, side corner, or rear yard shall be permitted, subject to obtaining all required permits under Title 9 of this Code and the California Building Standards Code, and the approval of fence design permit by the Site and Architectural Commission under this Section.
Permit
  • Yes. A fence design permit and all required building permits.
    Applies: Fences up to 8 feet in any side interior, side corner or rear yard.
    § 10.06.130 · code text
    A fence height up to eight (8) feet in any side interior, side corner, or rear yard shall be permitted, subject to obtaining all required permits under Title 9 of this Code and the California Building Standards Code, and the approval of fence design permit by the Site and Architectural Commission under this Section.
  • Yes. A site development permit is required for a pedestrian arbor over 7 feet.
    Applies: Pedestrian arbors added to a fence.
    § 10.06.130 · code text
    Construction of any pedestrian arbor in excess of seven (7) feet shall be subject to obtaining a site development permit in accordance with Chapter 8 of this Title, and subject to obtaining all required permits under Title 9 of this Code and the California Building Standards Code.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Monte Sereno?

Monte Sereno limits fences to 3 ft in front yards and 6 ft in interior side and rear yards.

General information, not legal advice.

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Monte Sereno Municipal Code — full text