Updates to Fence and Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinances at Permit Sonoma
In the spirit of making government work for everyone, to close out our final meetings of 2025 the Board of Supervisors approved two updates, to the Fence Ordinance and Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance, from Permit Sonoma. While these may seem small, I'm incredibly grateful to our Permit Sonoma staff for taking on these updates that improve services and create better experiences for Sonoma County residents.
The approved updates to the County’s Fence Ordinance streamline permitting and cut the high costs and long wait times residents can face when trying to build or replace a fence. Prior to these changes, most homeowners in unincorporated areas needed a Use Permit for fences taller than three feet in front of their properties or along roadways, which can be cost prohibitive and take months or even years to complete. The updated rules create clear, objective standards for fence height, location, materials and design, and allow many common fence types to move forward with either no permit or a simpler administrative review. I am confident these changes will make fence construction simpler and more affordable while retaining key standards that protect public safety and neighborhood compatibility.
The update to the ADU ordinance will make it easier for residents to build an ADU on their property, and to legalize the ones they may already have. The ordinance aligns County rules with evolving state laws while removing hurdles that can make ADUs complicated or infeasible, including more flexibility in the configurations and combinations of ADUs, allowing lots with single-family dwellings to now have two ADUs of any type, increasing height limits, decreasing parking mandates, and more. Lastly, the new rules implement an updated state law that requires a straightforward path to obtain permits for unauthorized units.
Learn more about the two updates at the following links.
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