Do I need a permit for a fence in Oakland, CA?

No building permit for wood or metal fences up to 7 ft or masonry fences up to 3 ft. Front-yard fences over 3.5 ft need Zoning Approval.

What changes the answer

• Front yard over 3.5 ft: zoning approval
• Over 7 ft: building permit

Cost

Fee not extracted; see the City of Oakland Master Fee Schedule. Unverified, confirm locally

Fee source: https://www.oaklandca.gov/Planning-Building/Building-Construction-Permits-Inspections/Building-Permits/Work-Exempt-from-a-Building-Permit

Where to apply

City of Oakland Planning & Building, Online Permit Center

Permitting authority: City of Oakland Planning & Building Department, Bureau of Building. Exempt work still needs zoning compliance; some exempt projects (front-yard fences, sheds) still need Zoning review. Paint disturbance on pre-1978 buildings is not exempt. See also: how to apply for a building permit.

Official sources

“Concrete or masonry fences not over 3 feet high and fences constructed of other materials when not over 7 feet high.”

Source: https://www.oaklandca.gov/Planning-Building/Building-Construction-Permits-Inspections/Building-Permits/Work-Exempt-from-a-Building-Permit

“Fences greater than 3.5 feet in height in a front yard require Zoning Approval”

Source: https://www.oaklandca.gov/My-Household/Building-and-Remodeling/Homeowner-Projects-Permits/Fence-Permits

“Fences/Gates/Freestanding Walls made of wood and metal and over 7 feet in height require a Building Permit.”

Source: https://www.oaklandca.gov/My-Household/Building-and-Remodeling/Homeowner-Projects-Permits/Fence-Permits

Verified: 2026-10-19 · Status: verified · Confidence: high