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Scotts Valley · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Scotts Valley

Residential fences: at most 3 feet in the front yard and 8 feet in side or rear yards; taller front fences need a permit.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Residential fences: at most 3 feet in the front yard and 8 feet in side or rear yards; taller front fences need a permit.

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

What Scotts Valley's code says

Scotts Valley code What Scotts Valley's code adds
Corner visibility
  • Fences, walls and hedges can be at most 3 feet above street grade in the corner triangle.
    Applies: The triangle has 50-foot sides from the street intersection, measured from curb lines or pavement edges where there is no curb.
    § 17.46.110 · code text
    No fence, wall or hedge located within a triangle having sides fifty feet in length from a street intersection, as measured from intersecting curb lines or intersecting edges of the street pavement where no curb exists, shall exceed three feet in height above the established grade of the adjoining street
Front yard height
  • At most 3 feet tall.
    Applies: In the front yard in all Residential (R) and Open Space (OS) zones.
    § 17.46.110 · code text
    Front Yard | 3
Side and rear yard height
  • At most 8 feet tall.
    Applies: In R and OS zones, interior side or rear yard. Above 6 feet must be open, unless the grade difference is 2 feet or less.
    § 17.46.110 · code text
    Interior Side or Rear Yard | 8, subject to limitations in next column
  • At most 8 feet tall.
    Applies: In R and OS zones, exterior side or rear yard. Over 3 feet in an exterior side yard: set back at least 3 feet.
    § 17.46.110 · code text
    Exterior Side or Rear Yard | 8 subject to limitations in next column
Permit
  • A Special Fence Permit is required for fences and retaining walls over 3 feet tall.
    Applies: In the front yard of a residentially zoned lot.
    § 17.46.110 · code text
    Fences and retaining walls taller than three feet may be allowed in the front yard of a residentially zoned lot subject to obtaining a Special Fence Permit as provided in Section 17.50.050.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Scotts Valley?

Residential fences: at most 3 feet in the front yard and 8 feet in side or rear yards; taller front fences need a permit.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Scotts Valley property

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Scotts Valley Municipal Code — full text