Fence Ordinance Update; File No. ORD25-0006
Summary
SCH Number
2025120995
Public Agency
Sonoma County
Document Title
Fence Ordinance Update; File No. ORD25-0006
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/22/2025
Document Description
Ordinance No. 6547 includes amendments to Chapter 26 (Zoning Code) of the Sonoma County Code to simplify the permitting process for certain types of fences by establishing objective standards for fences and similar structures based on height, materials, and fence design, and providing reduced permitting requirements in accordance with those standards. These standards and permitting requirements will apply to fences within the residential zoning districts (AR - Agricultural Residential, RR - Rural Residential, R1 - Low Density Residential, R2 - Medium Density Residential, and R3 - High Density Residential), and the Recreation and Visitor-Serving Commercial (K) zoning district. Consistent with the Sonoma County General Plan, the ordinance also proposes to exempt qualifying agricultural fences from design review requirements when applicable.
Contact Information
Name
Azine Spalding
Agency Name
Permit Sonoma
Job Title
Planner II
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Countywide
State Highways
US 1, US 101, SR 12, SR 37,
Railways
Multiple
Airports
Sonoma County Airport
Schools
Multiple
Waterways
Multiple
Base
MDM
Other Location Info
State Highways Continued: SR 116, SR 121
Affected land use designations include: Land Intensive Agriculture (LIA), Land Extensive Agriculture (LEA), Diverse Agriculture (DA), Resources and Rural Development (RRD), Rural Residential (RR), Urban Residential (UR), and Recreation and Visitor-Serving Commercial (K)
Other Information
Affected zoning designations include: Land Intensive Agriculture (LIA), Land Extensive Agriculture (LEA), Diverse Agriculture (DA), Resources and Rural Development (RRD), Agriculture and Residential (AR), Rural Residential (RR), Low Density Residential (R1), Medium Density Residential (R2), High Density Residential (R3), and Recreation and Visitor-Serving Commercial (K)
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15303(e)
Reasons for Exemption
Permit Sonoma has determined that the proposed ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (the common sense exemption), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment, and CEQA Guidelines Section 15303(e) (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), which provides for the new construction of small accessory structures such as fences.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
Permit Sonoma has determined that the proposed ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act {CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061{b){3) (the common sense exemption), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment, and CEQA Guidelines Section 15303{e) {New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), which provides for the new construction of small accessory structures such as fences.
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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