New California Fence Rules for 2026: What Changed

Rule	What it covers	Status
Zone 0 (Board of Forestry)	Combustible fences and gates attached to or within 5 ft of homes, in some fire hazard areas	Adopted Aug. 19, 2026; withdrawn from OAL review in Sept.; not in force
Civil Code §841	Neighbors share the reasonable cost of a dividing fence; 30-day written notice	Unchanged since 2014
Contractor minor-work limit (AB 2622)	Unlicensed work allowed only under $1,000 total and with no permit	In effect since Jan. 1, 2025
City height limits	How tall a fence can be, and where	Set locally; unchanged by state law

Zone 0: what it would do

As adopted, the regulations would bar combustible fences and gates attached to a home and new combustible fencing within 5 feet of it, call for a noncombustible span of about 5 feet where fencing meets the house, and allow repairs to existing combustible fencing (BB&K). They would apply in State Responsibility Areas in every hazard zone and in Very High zones in Local Responsibility Areas, with a 3–5 year phase-in for existing homes. In September 2026 the package was withdrawn from Office of Administrative Law review for technical edits, with no resubmission date (WildfireLA). Details and local maps: fire-resistant fencing.

Shared fences: no change

The good neighbor fence law is the same as it has been since 2014: equal responsibility is presumed, a written agreement overrides it, and 30 days’ written notice with specific contents comes first (§841). The notice checklist.

Handyman limit: $1,000

Since January 1, 2025, unlicensed work is limited to jobs under $1,000 for labor and materials combined that need no building permit (AB 2622). Choosing a contractor.

Height: still local

No state rule changed how tall a fence can be. Each city sets its own limits. Limits by city.

Questions

What are the new fence rules in California in 2026?

As of October 4, 2026, no new statewide fence law is in force. The Zone 0 wildfire rules adopted August 19, 2026 would restrict combustible fences within 5 feet of homes in some areas, but they were withdrawn from state review in September and have no effective date.

Did the good neighbor fence law change?

No. Civil Code §841’s equal-cost presumption and 30-day notice requirement have been in place since 2014.

Can a handyman build a fence in California?

Only jobs under $1,000 in total that need no permit. That limit rose from $500 on January 1, 2025.

Sources

Checked October 4, 2026. Rules and prices change; confirm anything that affects your project with the city or a licensed contractor.

What’s New in California Fence Rules for 2026