Santa Maria · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Santa Maria

Fences are limited to 3 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards, unless the Zoning Administrator authorizes otherwise.

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Key points

Fence height: Fences are limited to 3 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards, unless the Zoning Administrator authorizes otherwise.

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

What Santa Maria's code says

Santa Maria code What Santa Maria's code adds
Front yard height	No higher than 3 feet. Applies: Required front yards. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls shall not exceed a height of three feet within any required front yard, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back 10 feet or more from the back of sidewalk or front property line and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03. Up to 6 feet. Applies: Interior side lines and front yard; 10 feet or more behind the sidewalk or front line; no longer than 1/3 of parcel width. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls shall not exceed a height of three feet within any required front yard, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back 10 feet or more from the back of sidewalk or front property line and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03. No higher than 3 feet. Applies: Directly behind the public utility easement in Neotraditional Neighborhoods. § 12-27.02 · code text Fencing shall not exceed a height of three feet immediately behind the public utility easement, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back five feet or more from the back sidewalk and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03. Up to 6 feet. Applies: Neotraditional Neighborhoods; interior side lines and front yard; 5 feet or more behind the sidewalk; no longer than 1/3 of parcel width. § 12-27.02 · code text Fencing shall not exceed a height of three feet immediately behind the public utility easement, except that fences and walls up to a maximum height of six feet are permitted along the interior side lot lines and in the front yard, provided that the walls are set back five feet or more from the back sidewalk and are no longer than 1/3 of the parcel width, subject to the corner cutback requirements specified in Section 12-27.03. Trellises and arbors up to 9 feet. Applies: Front yard only; at least 10 feet from property lines and driveways, no wider than 10 feet, and not against the corner cutback rules. § 12-27.02 · code text Trellises and arbors, not exceeding nine feet in height, may be located in the front yard provided that they do not conflict with the provisions of Section 12-27.03, that they are at least 10 feet from property lines and driveways, and that they are no wider than 10 feet.
Side and rear yard height	No higher than 6 feet. Applies: Required side yards, unless the Zoning Administrator allows otherwise. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls erected within required side yards shall not exceed a height of six feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator. No higher than 6 feet. Applies: Side yards in Neotraditional Neighborhoods, outside the public utility easement. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls shall be located outside of the public utility easement and shall not exceed a height of six feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator. No higher than 6 feet. Applies: Rear yards, unless the Zoning Administrator allows otherwise. § 12-27.02 · code text Fences and walls erected within rear yards shall not exceed a height of six feet, unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Santa Maria?

Fences are limited to 3 feet in required front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards, unless the Zoning Administrator authorizes otherwise.

General information, not legal advice.

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