Good Neighbor Fences

DISTRICT COST SHARING OF GOOD NEIGHBOR FENCING

The Santa Clara Valley Water District, to be good neighbors with adjoining property owners, has established a policy to share in the cost for replacement or installation of wooden or chain link fencing that serves to define the boundary between District and adjoining property. If you wish to have the District share in the cost of replacing or installing a fence between your property and the District's, please make a written request to:

Community Projects Review Unit
Santa Clara Valley Water District
5750 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118-3686

Your written request should include the following:

• Property owners' name, property address, daytime phone number and facsimile number.

• Assessor's Parcel Number for the subject property (located on your property tax bill).

• Your name, address and phone number (if different than above).

• Name of the creek or district facility adjacent to property (if known).

• Type of fence to be installed (wood or chain link) and height of fence.

• Plan or sketch of the property showing location and dimensions of fencing to be cost shared. A sample plan is included here. (PDF 91KB)

• If the fence contractor will be accessing the fence from district property, a certificate of insurance and additional insured endorsement will be required.

Upon receipt of your written request:

• The district will begin the process for a district permit. Please allow 3 weeks for processing the permit.

• Upon receipt of a district permit, your construction may proceed.

• Upon completion of the fence construction, notify the inspector identified on the permit and submit an invoice to the district's Community Projects Review Unit. The district will inspect the fence installation to ensure compliance with district permit conditions.

• Please allow 4 to 6 weeks from submission of the invoice for receipt of the check.

The conditions for district sharing are:

• The district's share of the cost of the common fence is limited to $9.50 per lineal foot. The cost of upgrades will not be shared. This is based on the market rate for installation of chain link fences.
  

• Construction of the fence must meet local city, town county ordinances and requirements. It is the property owner's responsibility to determine the applicability of such regulations.
  

• The fence construction must also conform to the drawings and specifications for fences that are attached to this Information Sheet.
  

• Barbed wire, points, broken glass or other hazardous features may not be placed on or near the fence.
  

• Maintenance of the fence is the responsibility of the property owner. Alterations or modifications to the fence must have prior written approval from the district.
  

• The fence must be located on the common property line. Encroachment onto district property is not allowed.
  

• Access on to district property is not allowed, except under permit for actual construction of the fence.
  

• All debris and trash resulting from fence demolition and/or installation must not be allowed to migrate into the creek and must be removed from district property.
  

• The life expectancy of the fence is 20 years. The district will not cost share for a replacement fence within this period except under special circumstances.
  

• The district reserves the right to decline to cost share and may, at its own cost, install a chain link fence or other fencing as appropriate.

• Fence Construction may not incorporate gates.