New Fence Installation in Oxnard, CA
A new fence is a big job. The company should measure, check your property line, pull the permit if one is needed, and set posts deep enough to stay straight.
- Vinyl privacy fence. Vinyl resists salt, moisture and sun, so it holds up well in coastal air.
- Powder-coated aluminum fence. Aluminum does not rust, which makes it a common pick near the harbor and beach.
- Wood privacy fence with stainless hardware. Wood is allowed on most lots, but salt and damp air mean regular sealing and rust-proof screws.
- Block or masonry wall. Block walls handle wind well, but walls 3 feet 6 inches and taller need a city permit.
Salt air and ocean moisture eat metal. Standard galvanized chain link, plain steel and ordinary hardware rust faster near the coast.
Vinyl and powder-coated aluminum with stainless steel screws and hardware are the lowest-risk picks near the water, according to fence industry guides.
Wood needs a sealer or stain every few years to handle damp marine air and sun.
Typical prices in Oxnard
| Job | Typical range | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Wood fence, per linear foot installed | $20-$50 | national 2025 |
| Vinyl fence, per linear foot installed | $30-$60 | national 2025 |
| Chain link fence, per linear foot installed | $9-$30 | national 2025 |
| Wrought iron fence, per linear foot installed | $50-$85 or more | national 2025 |
Ranges, not quotes. Your price depends on the job.
Oxnard rules that apply
The city says wood, chain link, vinyl and wrought iron fences not over 6 feet high on a single-family home generally do not need a building permit. Block walls 3 feet 6 inches or taller (measured from the bottom of the footing) do need one. Retaining walls 3 feet or taller may need a building permit and may also need a grading permit. Call Building and Engineering with your height, material and length before you start.
- A third-party summary of the city code says solid fences and walls in a front yard are limited to 18 inches. Open-work fences and hedges in a front yard can go to 42 inches if they are at least half open. Confirm with the city.
- The same summary says side and rear lot line fences can go to 7 feet, and a fence on the street side of a corner lot to 6 feet. Confirm with the city.
- Block walls 3 feet 6 inches and taller, measured from the bottom of the footing, need a building permit.
- Retaining walls 3 feet and taller, measured from the bottom of the footing, need a building permit. They might also need a grading permit.
- Barbed wire, broken glass and sharp or dangerous objects on fences are banned citywide, with limited farm and industrial exceptions.
- A fence or wall in a city right of way or on city land needs an encroachment permit. Fences are not allowed in the parkway between the street and the sidewalk.
- A rear fence along an alley must leave room for trash containers: at least 6 feet wide, 30 inches deep and 4 feet tall.
- In California, neighbors who share a dividing fence are presumed to split the reasonable cost equally, and you must give 30 days written notice before you spend money on it.
Questions
Do I need a permit for a block wall or retaining wall?
Block walls 3 feet 6 inches and taller need a building permit. Retaining walls 3 feet and taller need one and might need a grading permit. Heights are measured from the bottom of the footing.