California / Contra Costa County
Fence Permit in Contra Costa County, California
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a fence more than 7 feet high, before building any concrete or masonry wall regardless of height, and before building a retaining wall more than three feet in height measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall.
Issued byContra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Contra Costa County exempts fences not over 7 feet high from a building permit but expressly does not extend that exemption to concrete and masonry walls, which are classified as walls and always require a permit. The county's fee schedule confirms the cutoff with a dedicated "Fences Greater than 7ft" line item priced differently for chain-link or wood than for other materials. These rules cover unincorporated Contra Costa County; Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Martinez, Oakley, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek each run their own building departments and are excluded. Unusually, the county's Building Inspection Division also issues building permits under contract for five incorporated jurisdictions, the cities of Clayton, Hercules, Lafayette, and Orinda and the Town of Moraga, which handle their own planning entitlements.
Typical threshold: height of a fence, with concrete and masonry walls treated as walls rather than fences.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before building a fence more than 7 feet high, before building any concrete or masonry wall regardless of height, and before building a retaining wall more than three feet in height measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall.
What a fence permit costs in Contra Costa County
How Contra Costa County compares in California
Across the California jurisdictions we have verified, the same threshold runs from 6 to 7, so a project that is exempt here may still need a permit one county over.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | It depends | Permit exemption height limit: 7 feet for fences of light materials, 5 feet 9 inches for fences of concrete, masonry, or similar heavy materials |
| Contra Costa Countythis page | It depends | height of a fence, with concrete and masonry walls treated as walls rather than fences |
| Fresno County | It depends | Fences not over 7 feet high are on the county's published list of work exempt from a building permit |
| Los Angeles | It depends | masonry or concrete fence up to 6 ft in height may be built without a permit if it meets LADBS construction specifications in IB-P-BC2014-080; a solid masonry infill panel between pilasters may not exceed 3 ft 6 in with lightweight open material filling the remaining height; non-masonry fence height threshold not confirmed from official page |
| Sacramento County | It depends | fence height, measured from the grade on the right-of-way side when the fence sits within 5 feet of the public right-of-way and otherwise from the highest grade on either side |
| San Bernardino County | It depends | height of a fence or block wall |
| Santa Clara County | It depends | fence height at which the County Residential Code permit exemption stops applying |
Closest fence permit thresholds outside California
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Contra Costa County's 7 feet in height.
- Aurora, Colorado, fence height at which a building permit is required
- Boise, Idaho, fence height
- Corpus Christi, Texas, Fences taller than 7 feet in height need a building permit; fences 7 feet or less in height are on the city's published exemption list.
- Detroit, Michigan, fence height, for a fence outside a Special Review District
How to apply in Contra Costa County
In Contra Costa County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own.
What most fence permit applications include:
- For Contra Costa County, a fence 7 feet or under is exempt from the model code's building permit, the same threshold the IRC uses for other small projects (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- That exemption only removes the building-code permit. It does not authorize skipping a jurisdiction's own zoning approval, which is why an exempt fence can still need its own land-use or zoning permit rather than a building permit (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- Whatever your jurisdiction calls that approval, the application centers on a basic site plan: a drawing of the property showing the fence's location, height, and material, and how it relates to the property lines (common local zoning practice).
- For Contra Costa County, the same plan is checked against required setbacks and, on corner lots or near intersections, a sight-triangle rule that caps fence height so it does not block sightlines for drivers (common local zoning practice).
- For Contra Costa County, a fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is handled as life-safety work rather than the light zoning process, and at least one state's adopted residential code requires a building permit for barrier fences regardless of the general fence exemption (Oregon Residential Specialty Code 2021, R101.2.2).
General submittal guidance from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R105.2. Source. Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division sets the exact checklist for Contra Costa County.
Where to apply in Contra Costa County:
Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division
- Application and Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553
- Phone: 925-655-2700
- Email: permits@dcd.cccounty.us
Fence Permit in Contra Costa County compared with nearby California localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each California schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa County | It depends | height of a fence, with concrete and masonry walls treated as walls rather than fences | ..."Fences Greater than 7ft": Building Permit / Inspection, chain-link or wood $116.00... | |
| Alameda County | It depends | Permit exemption height limit: 7 feet for fences of light materials, 5 feet 9 inches for fences of concrete, masonry, or similar heavy materials | ...using the Schedule A building permit fee table, which starts at a '$140.00 minimum... | |
| Fresno County | It depends | Fences not over 7 feet high are on the county's published list of work exempt from a building permit | The Master Schedule of Fees publishes no flat fence permit fee | |
| Los Angeles | It depends | masonry or concrete fence up to 6 ft in height may be built without a permit if it meets LADBS construction specifications in IB-P-BC2014-080; a solid masonry infill panel between pilasters may not exceed 3 ft 6 in with lightweight open material filling the remaining height; non-masonry fence height threshold not confirmed from official page | Valuation-based building permit per LAMC 91.113 Table 1-A | |
| Los Angeles County | It depends | height of a fence or freestanding block wall measured from the lowest adjacent grade; a masonry or concrete fence must also be set back from a public way at least a distance equal to its height to stay exempt | ...6 feet is priced from the valuation-based Table 1-A Building Permit Fees: $65.36... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Contra Costa County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
- In Contra Costa County: inspection duty attaches only to work for which a permit is required, so a fence that qualified for the permit exemption carries no inspection obligation under the model code (IRC 2021 R109.1).
- In Contra Costa County: where a fence permit was issued, the process skips the staged foundation, frame, and rough-in inspections used for buildings and goes straight to one final inspection once the fence is finished (IRC 2021 R109.1.6).
- In Contra Costa County: that single check is typically a zoning compliance inspection rather than a structural review, confirming the fence matches the approved height and site plan (common local practice).
- A fence built as a swimming-pool barrier breaks that light-touch pattern in Contra Costa County: it is separately inspected for barrier compliance, commonly required before the pool itself can be signed off (ISPSC 305; local pool-barrier inspection programs).
- In Contra Costa County: that barrier inspection checks dimensional rules from the swimming pool and spa code rather than ordinary fence rules, including the minimum 48 inch barrier height and limits on openings and gaps a young child could pass through (ISPSC 305).
- Gate hardware is inspected too in Contra Costa County: a self-closing, self-latching gate is part of the barrier requirement, since an unlatched gate defeats the fence's purpose as a barrier (ISPSC 305).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Contra Costa County permit portal or by phone at 925-655-2700.
Inspection sequence from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R109, and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Fence Permit checklist for Contra Costa County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: height of a fence, with concrete and masonry walls treated as walls rather than fences. Usually needed: Before building a fence more than 7 feet high, before building any concrete or masonry wall regardless of height, and before building a retaining wall more than three feet in height measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall.
- Budget the fee. Land Development Fee Schedule item 13, "Fences Greater than 7ft": Building Permit / Inspection, chain-link or wood $116.00 per permit and Plan Check, chain-link or wood $76.00 per permit; Building Permit / Inspection, other materials $172.00 per permit and Plan Check, other materials $345.00 per permit. Adopted by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on May 24, 2022, effective on August 10, 2022. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Contra Costa County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own. Start at the Contra Costa County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division. Phone: 925-655-2700. Address: Application and Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553.
- Plan for inspections. In Contra Costa County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fence permit in Contra Costa County?
- Contra Costa County exempts fences not over 7 feet high from a building permit but expressly does not extend that exemption to concrete and masonry walls, which are classified as walls and always require a permit. The county's fee schedule confirms the cutoff with a dedicated "Fences Greater than 7ft" line item priced differently for chain-link or wood than for other materials. These rules cover unincorporated Contra Costa County; Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Martinez, Oakley, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek each run their own building departments and are excluded. Unusually, the county's Building Inspection Division also issues building permits under contract for five incorporated jurisdictions, the cities of Clayton, Hercules, Lafayette, and Orinda and the Town of Moraga, which handle their own planning entitlements. Height of a fence, with concrete and masonry walls treated as walls rather than fences. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a fence permit cost in Contra Costa County?
- Land Development Fee Schedule item 13, "Fences Greater than 7ft": Building Permit / Inspection, chain-link or wood $116.00 per permit and Plan Check, chain-link or wood $76.00 per permit; Building Permit / Inspection, other materials $172.00 per permit and Plan Check, other materials $345.00 per permit. Adopted by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on May 24, 2022, effective on August 10, 2022. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a fence permit in Contra Costa County?
- You can apply through the Contra Costa County permit portal or contact the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a fence permit themselves in Contra Costa County?
- Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner from contractor licensing under section 7044 when they personally perform all the work on their own property, or any work they do not perform themselves is done by their own employees paid only wages, and none of the improvements are intended or offered for sale. It also exempts an owner who directly contracts with licensed contractors for each trade, as long as no more than four of the single-family residential structures involved are intended or offered for sale in a calendar year; this route does not apply if the owner instead contracts with a general contractor for the construction. A homeowner may also improve their own principal residence without a license, as long as the work is done before any sale, they have actually resided there for the 12 months before completion, and they have not used this exemption on more than two structures more than once in any three-year period. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a civil penalty of up to $500. Confirm how Contra Costa County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Contra Costa County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | area of a deck that is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a code-required exit door | No deck-specific flat fee is published |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 C.6, "Electrical Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 D.6, "Mechanical Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | roof area of a trellis, arbor, or pergola accessory to a residence, treated by the county as a one-story detached accessory structure | ...cover (includes pre-fab types, usually with ICBO research listing)" at $25.73 per... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Any size | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | depth of a prefabricated pool accessory to a one or two family dwelling that is installed entirely above ground and holds no more than 5,000 gallons | The Building Valuation Data Supplement sets a "Swimming pool, lump sum of: $39,514.98"... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Schedule item 14, "Re-Roofs - Residential": Building Permit / Inspection $150.00... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure | No shed-specific flat fee is published |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...mount," photovoltaic systems 15 kW or less: Building Permit/inspection $86.00 per... |
Fence Permit in other California localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Contra Costa County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this fence permit page for Contra Costa County was verified. 2 official sources: contracosta.ca.gov, contracosta.ca.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Fence Permit requirements across California localities