Height guide

How tall can a front yard fence be in San Francisco?

Updated October 2026

In the front setback of most San Francisco residential lots (RH, RM and RTO districts), a fence can be 3 feet tall if solid, or up to 6 feet if it is at least 75% open. You cannot stack open fencing on top of a 3-foot solid base. In the required rear yard, Planning allows up to 10 feet, though anything over 6 feet needs a building permit.

What counts as the front setback?

In RH, RM and RTO districts, the required front setback is based on the front walls of the buildings next door. Planning's handout says the maximum required front setback is 15% of the lot depth or 15 feet, whichever is less. On a corner lot, the setback is half of the adjacent one. If your house lines up with the sidewalk, you may have little or no front setback at all.

What does "75% open" mean?

It means the solid parts of the fence make up 25% or less of its total face. Slim metal pickets with wide gaps can pass. Planning notes that an ordinary picket fence with small gaps between slats generally does not, unless the slats are very thin. Chain link and many aluminum designs meet the test easily.

Can I put a lattice on top of a 3-foot wall?

Not in the front setback. Planning's handout says a fence that is 3 feet solid with any additional fencing above it will not be permitted there. The choice is a 3-foot solid fence, or a fence that is 75% open over its whole face up to 6 feet.

How tall can side and rear yard fences be?

Planning limits are not the same as permit thresholds. A 7-foot back fence is allowed by Planning but still needs a building permit, as the permit guide explains.

What does the answer depend on?

It depends on your zoning district, how deep your front setback actually is, and how open the design is. Two houses on the same block can get different answers if one is set back and the other sits at the sidewalk. Historic districts, private covenants and HOA rules can be stricter still.

What fences work well in a San Francisco front yard?

• A 3-foot solid wood or vinyl fence with a matching gate.
• A taller aluminum or steel fence designed to be at least 75% open.
• A low fence on the setback line with a taller, permitted fence farther back, where the lot allows it.