Do you need a permit for a fence in San Francisco?
It depends on the project. San Francisco exempts some fences from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 6 feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
San Francisco's rule“A building permit is not required for a fence that is three feet or less in height at the front of a property, or six feet or less in height at the side or rear property lines.”1
City and County of San Francisco, Planning Department, Fences
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Fences taller than 6 feet in side or rear yard (maximum of 10 feet) or taller than 3 feet in front yard | Fences taller than 6 feet in side or rear yard (maximum of 10 feet) or taller than 3 feet in front yard. Shorter fences do not require a permit.2 |
Limits and conditions in San Francisco'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 | 6 feet | A building permit is not required for a fence that is three feet or less in height at the front of a property, or six feet or less in height at the side or rear property lines.1 |
| Exempt height at the front of the property | 3 feet | A building permit is not required for a fence that is three feet or less in height at the front of a property, or six feet or less in height at the side or rear property lines.1 |
| Exempt height under the Building Code, side and rear lot lines | 6 feet | 2. Fences not over 6 feet {1829 mm) high located at the rear and side lot lines at the rear of the property. and all fences not over 3 feet (914. 4 m) in height.3 |
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 | If you propose a fence within the required front setback area, it is limited to a height of 3 feet if solid, and 6 feet if 75% open.4 |
| Maximum height in side and rear yards | 10 feet | In the required rear yard area, the maximum allowable height of a fence is 10 feet above grade.4 |
| Neighborhood notification | Not required for fences 10 ft or less | Neighborhood notification is not required for fences ten feet or less in height.1 |
What to submit
- Plans required for fences above the exempt heights2
Who can apply
Persons eligible to obtain a San Francisco Building Permit include: • Property Owners • State of California Licensed Contractors, or • An authorized agent for property owner or contractor…
5
Fence permit fees in San Francisco
Fee lines as San Francisco'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $1 to $2,000 | Based on project valuation | $181 for the first $500 plus $8.60 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,0006 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $1 to $2,000 | Based on project valuation | $206 for the first $500 plus $4 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,0006 |
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $2,001 to $50,000 | Based on project valuation | $310 for the first $2,000 plus $28.35 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,0006 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $2,001 to $50,000 | Based on project valuation | $266 for the first $2,000 plus $8.56 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,0006 |
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $50,001 to $200,000 | Based on project valuation | $1,617 for the first $50,000 plus $15.60 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $200,0006 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $50,001 to $200,000 | Based on project valuation | $677 for the first $50,000 plus $4.83 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $200,0006 |
| Building permit Plan Review Fee, total valuation $200,001 to $500,000 | Based on project valuation | $4,011 for the first $200,000 plus $13.31 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,0006 |
| Building permit Permit Issuance Fee, total valuation $200,001 to $500,000 | Based on project valuation | $1,402 for the first $200,000 plus $4.21 for each additional $1000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,0006 |
All of San Francisco's fee lines are on the San Francisco permit page.
Inspections
- Building, plumbing/mechanical and electrical inspections (non-PermitSF permits)7 PermitSF permits: request inspections online from the PermitSF dashboard7
Special areas and extra reviews
- Rear-yard height over 10 ft requires a variance4
Who to ask
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI)8
Building permits
- Apply online
- sanfranciscoca.portal.opengov.com8
- Phone
- (628) 652-32008
- [email protected]8
- Address
- 49 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 941038
- Hours
- Mon 9:00 am-5:00 pm; Tue-Fri 8:00 am-5:00 pm; closed public holidays; Plan Review and Print Center queues close 4:30 pm8
- Inspections
- Voice Inspection Scheduling System 628-652-3401 (24/7) for non-PermitSF permits; PermitSF permits: request online from the PermitSF dashboard7
Fence permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare San Francisco 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
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Fences | SF PlanningCity and County of San Francisco, Planning DepartmentLast updated May 10, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Get an Over-the-Counter permit for your exterior residential projectCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
- Ordinance No. 65-19: Various Department of Building Inspection Codes - Technical Corrections to Existing CodeCity and County of San Francisco, Board of Supervisors (Clerk of the Board, sfbos.archive.sf.gov)Adopted April 2, 2019Checked November 7, 2026
- General Planning Information: FencesCity and County of San Francisco, Planning DepartmentPublished January 2019Checked November 6, 2026
- Who Can Obtain a Building Permit? (and Property Owner / Licensed Contractor forms)City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
- Fee Schedule Table 1A-A: Building Permit Fees (July 2026)City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionEffective July 12, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Schedule and pay for your inspectionCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026
- Department of Building Inspection | SF.govCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionChecked November 7, 2026