Fence height is set locally, by your city or county, and your HOA can add its own rules on top. Check both before you order materials.
What city rules tend to cover
Three real examples show how much they vary:
| Place | Front yard | Side and back | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated San Mateo County, CA | 4 feet | 6 feet | A height exception may be needed depending on height and materials |
| Inver Grove Heights, MN | 42 inches, mostly open like chain link | 7 feet max, with exceptions | Required for any fence |
| Franklin County, WA | 4 feet | 6 feet | Not required for a fence 6 feet or less; needed above 6 feet in agricultural, commercial and industrial zones |
Franklin County measures height from the ground to the top of the fence.
Corner lots can carry extra limits so drivers can see. Franklin County uses a 20 foot vision triangle. Our city pages list the height and permit rules we could source for each city.
HOAs
Local zoning and homeowners associations can both control where a fence goes, its style and its height, and may require sign-off first. Franklin County tells owners in developments with covenants or an HOA to check those rules themselves, because the county doesn't review them.
State law can limit an HOA too. The Texas State Law Library notes that Texas property owners' associations can't stop an owner from installing certain types of fencing, though they can still limit its look and type, and that cities may have their own fence laws on top of state law.
What a permit usually costs
HomeAdvisor says building permits for a fence cost $20 to $60. Its wood fence guide gives a wider $100 to $500 depending on local rules.
Sources: County of San Mateo, CA Public Works: Fence Permit; City of Inver Grove Heights, MN: Fence handout (PDF); Franklin County, WA Planning and Building: Fence Placement Requirements (PDF); Catalyst Fence Solutions: Privacy Vinyl Fence Kit installation instructions (PDF); Texas State Law Library: Neighbor Law, Fences and Boundaries; HomeAdvisor fence installation cost guide (June 2026); HomeAdvisor wood fence cost guide (June 2026).