Permit guide

Do I need a permit for a fence in Bakersfield?

Updated October 2026

Usually not for an ordinary wood, vinyl, chain link or metal fence at a home. The California Residential Code exempts fences up to 7 feet tall from a building permit, and Bakersfield zoning already limits home fences to 6 feet in side and rear yards. It depends on the project, though: block walls, retaining walls, fences on retaining walls and pool barriers can need review, and every fence must meet the city's zoning rules.

What does state code exempt?

Section R105.2 of the California Residential Code lists work that does not need a building permit, including fences not over 7 feet high and retaining walls not over 4 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing, and not supporting a surcharge). Cities adopt the state code and can amend it locally, so the City of Bakersfield's building division has the final word for your address.

When should I expect a permit or review?

• Block and masonry walls. Common in Bakersfield, and the project type most likely to need building review. Note that the CSLB C-13 Fencing classification excludes masonry walls, which are a separate trade.
• Retaining walls over 4 feet, or any wall holding back soil with a load above it.
• Fences on top of retaining walls, where the combined structure matters.
• Pool barriers, reviewed with the pool permit. More on the pool fences page.
• Anything taller than zoning allows, which needs city approval, not just a permit.

What rules apply with or without a permit?

• Height: 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards in residential zones (Bakersfield Municipal Code 17.08.180).
• No barbed or electrified wire along or within 3 feet of residential lot lines.
• No sharp wire or points on top of any fence or wall under 6 feet.
• HOA rules, where they exist, can be stricter.

Details: how tall a fence can be in Bakersfield.

What about Oildale, Rosedale, Shafter and Delano?

Oildale and unincorporated Rosedale follow Kern County. Shafter and Delano are separate cities with their own building departments. We check the right agency for each address.

Permit or not: a quick check

Even without a permit, build on your own side of the line or put an agreement with your neighbor in writing.