Do you need a permit for a fence in San Diego?
It depends on the project. San Diego exempts some fences from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 7 feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
San Diego's rule“Fences, other than swimming pool barriers, that are 7 feet in height or less.”1
City of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk), §129.0203(a)(2)
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Fence over 7 feet high (other than a pool barrier, which is not exempt) | Fences, other than swimming pool barriers, that are 7 feet in height or less.1 |
| Pool barrier permit | Pool barrier fences are not covered by the fence exemption | Fences, other than swimming pool barriers, that are 7 feet in height or less.1 |
| Zoning permit or review | Coastal Development Permit for fences between the shoreline and first public roadway | Any fence or retaining wall located on premises that lies between the shoreline and the first public roadway, as designated on Map Drawing No. C-731. Section 142.0310-142.0380 Coastal Development Permit/Process Three - Appealable…2 |
Limits and conditions in San Diego's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this height | 7 feet | Fences, other than swimming pool barriers, that are 7 feet in height or less.1 |
Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).
| Zoning rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum height in the front yard | 3 feet | Solid fences located on the front or street side property line shall not exceed 3 feet in height except as provided in Section 142.0310(c)(1)(C).2 |
| Maximum height in side and rear yards | 9 feet | Fences located in required side yards and required rear yards are permitted up to 9 feet in height.2 |
| Zoning approval needed even without a building permit? | No | Any fence with a height less than 7 feet Sections 129.0203, 142.0310-142.0330, 142.0360-142.0380 No permit required by this division…2 |
What to submit
- Non-exempt fences designed by a California-licensed design professional; plans and structural calculations3
Who can apply
- Owner-builder allowed with Form DS-30424
Fence permit fees in San Diego
Fee lines as San Diego's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Fence (Mas/Non-Mas) > 7’ high, per 100 LF | Plan review | Plan check $2,031.00 base / $970.52 each add’l; inspection $529.71 base / $353.13 each add’l5 |
| Fence (Mas/Non-Mas) City Std, each 100 LF | Plan review | Plan check $1,148.29 / $1,148.29; inspection $353.13 / $353.135 |
All of San Diego's fee lines are on the San Diego permit page.
Inspections
- No City inspection for exempt standard fences3
Special areas and extra reviews
- Exemptions do not apply to historical resources, ESL sites needing a development permit, or URM buildings1
- Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones / Brush Management Zones may add fire requirements3
California law that applies
- State rules on which work needs a permit in California
- Homeowners doing their own work in California
- Contractor licensing in California
Who to ask
City of San Diego Development Services Department6
Building permits
- Website
- sandiego.gov6
- Apply online
- sandiego.gov7
- Phone
- (619) 446-50008
- Address
- 7650 Mission Valley Road, MS# DSD-1A, San Diego, CA 921089
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (in-person services closed 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)9
- Inspections
- 858-581-7111 (24/7 automated line) or online10
Fence permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare San Diego with 18 other cities on the national fence permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- SDMC Chapter 12, Article 9, Division 2: Building Permit ProceduresCity of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk)Revised September 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- SDMC Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 3: Fence RegulationsCity of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk)Revised September 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Information Bulletin 222: Standard FencesCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised December 2023Checked November 7, 2026
- Information Bulletin 211: Residential DecksCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised April 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Information Bulletin 501: Fee Schedule for Construction Permits-StructuresCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised August 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- About UsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Information Bulletin 120: Project InspectionsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised October 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Contact UsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 6, 2026
- Locations and HoursCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 6, 2026
- InspectionsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026