What if my Forestville lot sits in the river's floodway?

Then a fence can't go there. Mapped floodways carry F1 zoning, and County code keeps every type of fence out of them. A FEMA flood zone outside the floodway is a separate question, so the first step is asking Permit Sonoma exactly where your parcel falls before we lay out a line near the river.

Do orchard deer fences in Forestville need a permit?

Maybe not. On vineyard or orchard land, post-and-wire deer fencing built as a farm fence may be exempt, since the County lets farm fences up to 8 feet go in without a permit in AR and RR zones. Your zoning decides it, so we check that with Permit Sonoma before planning a tall fence.

How tall can a Forestville front-yard fence be without review?

In residential zones, 3 feet in the front setback, or up to 6 feet if the fence is open on top. Open means at least 90% see-through. A solid front fence between 3 and 6 feet goes through Administrative Design Review before it can be built.

Forestville isn't incorporated. Who approves a fence here?

Permit Sonoma, which handles permits for the County of Sonoma. There's no town building department, so County zoning and building codes set the limits. A change the County made in December 2025 means no fence of any type needs a use permit anymore, though building permit rules still stand.

Very long redwood board fence with kickboard under valley oaks at the edge of a rural lot, lumber stacked in front

In Forestville, a Wood Fence Starts With the River

Wood and privacy fences for homes near the Russian River, and post-and-wire deer fencing for the orchards and vineyards east and south of town.

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Forestville, CA

We live in Forestville. Can New Line Fencing help?

Yes. Forestville and Sebastopol, our home base, both sit on Highway 116, and we build wood, privacy, vinyl and chain link fences there, along with deer fencing, ranch rail and custom gates. We also fix sagging sections, rotted posts and gates that drag. Because the town is unincorporated, County of Sonoma fence rules apply.

Forestville has two kinds of fence ground: town lots near Front Street and farm land in the hills to the east and south. Lots closer to the river bring one more question, which is whether the parcel sits in a flood zone.

Get a Free Estimate Call (707) 396-8940

Welded-wire deer fence on wood posts with a top rail around a dry hillside clearing under a madrone

Forestville service area

Which roads and blocks around Forestville are in our area?

Anywhere in the 95436 ZIP code. That means the Front Street blocks between Covey Road and Mirabel Road, homes toward the Russian River and Steelhead Beach Park, and the vineyards and apple orchards east and south of town. Not sure your road is included? Call (707) 396-8940 and ask.

Highway 116 runs through the middle of Forestville as Front Street. The Russian River, Steelhead Beach Park and Mount Jackson lie to the north, redwood forest stands to the west, and rolling hills planted in vineyards and apple orchards spread out to the east and south.

The County's Russian River flood plan names Forestville alongside Guerneville, Rio Nido and Monte Rio on the river's flood-prone lower reach, and the Laguna de Santa Rosa and Mark West Creek meet the river nearby. Out on orchard and vineyard ground, post-and-wire deer fencing built as a farm fence may not need a permit.

Services in Forestville

Which fences fit Forestville's mix of town lots and orchards?

Wood and privacy fences fit the lots near downtown, and tall post-and-wire deer fencing fits orchard and vineyard land. In town, most fences follow side and rear lines shared with neighbors. Farther out, a driveway gate closes off a long fence line, and an older fence may only need new posts.

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Permits and rules

Does a fence near the Russian River in Forestville need a permit?

Most don't. You'd need a building permit only for a solid fence above 7 feet, or for any fence above 10. Residential side and rear fences can reach 6 feet, or 8 feet with lattice or an open top, and no fence may go in a mapped floodway. Permit Sonoma's fence rules cover the details.

Before you build in Forestville:

Permit Sonoma handles fence questions for Forestville: (707) 565-1900, PermitSonoma@sonomacounty.gov, or the office at 2550 Ventura Ave in Santa Rosa. File through the Permit Sonoma Application Portal.
A backyard fence on a residential lot can stand 6 feet tall on side and rear lines, and 8 feet if lattice or open fencing makes up the top.
Posts have to stay at least 6 inches outside public rights-of-way and easements.
The County flags this reach of the Russian River as flood-prone and bars fences from mapped F1 floodways, so get your parcel's FEMA flood zone from Permit Sonoma early.

Long run of new redwood privacy fence with a lattice top and dark-stained posts across a dry backyard, seen from beside a work ladder

Lattice-top redwood privacy fence with a matching walk gate along a concrete side path

Solid horizontal redwood round pen with a steel-frame double gate on open oak land, flatbed trailer in the foreground

Redwood privacy fence with slatted top and dark posts behind a kidney-shaped pool and new plantings

FAQ

Forestville FAQ

Nearby areas

What about the towns around Forestville?

Guerneville, the next stop on Highway 116 toward Monte Rio, plus Graton in Green Valley and the small rural town of Occidental. All three are unincorporated, so County rules apply, but each has its own terrain and quirks. Find them below, or browse the full list on our service areas page.

Planning a fence near the river or the orchards?

A short note with your address and the fence you want is all we need to set up a walk-through. Or call (707) 396-8940.

Get a Free Estimate Call (707) 396-8940