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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 9Pt. 1Ch. 7Art. 5§ 17121 Lawful Fence Specifications

§ 17121 Lawful Fence Specifications

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 17121 Lawful Fence Specifications

This law tells you what kind of fence is considered legal for keeping livestock in or out.

Key Takeaways

  • •A lawful fence must be good, strong, and able to stop livestock from getting in or out.
  • •If it’s a wire fence, it needs three tightly stretched barbed wires fastened to strong posts that are no more than one rod apart.
  • •One of those wires must be at least four feet above the ground, and any fence as strong as this counts as lawful, including properly built cattle guards.

Example

A farmer puts up a fence with three tightly stretched barbed wires, posts set close together, and makes sure one of the wires is at least four feet off the ground.

Because the fence meets all the requirements (strong posts, three barbed wires, wires close together, one wire high enough), the law says this fence is a lawful fence that will keep the cattle from escaping.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 17121 Lawful Fence Specifications

A lawful fence is any fence which is good, strong, substantial, and sufficient to prevent the ingress and egress of livestock. No wire fence is a good and substantial fence within the meaning of this article unless it has three tightly stretched barbed wires securely fastened to posts of reasonable strength, firmly set in the ground not more than one rod apart, one of which wires shall be at least four feet above the surface of the ground. Any kind of wire or other fence of height, strength and capacity equal to or greater than the wire fence herein described is a good and substantial fence within the meaning of this article. The term “lawful fence” includes cattle guards of such width, depth, rail spacing, and construction as will effectively turn livestock. (Amended by Stats. 1967, Ch. 13.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

lawful fenceingress and egress of livestockthree tightly stretched barbed wirescattle guards

Related Statutes

  • § 17122 Grazing County Estray Animals
  • § 17123 Grazing Counties Designation
  • § 17124 County Grazing Land Declaration
  • § 17125 Trinity County Grazing Exclusions
  • § 17126 Shasta County Grazing Exclusion

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 17121.
View Official Source