20250AB__162299INT INTRODUCED 2026-01-22 2025 AB INT Introduced by Assembly Members Blanca Rubio and Carrillo LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Blanca Rubio LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Carrillo

An act to amend and repeal

Section of the Civil Code, relating to electrified security fences. electrified security fences Electrified security fences.

Existing law, until January 1, 2028, authorizes an owner of real property to install and operate on their property an electrified security fence that is powered by an electrical energizer, driven by solar-charged batteries of no more than volts of direct current, and used to protect and secure manufacturing or industrial property, or property zoned under another designation, but legally authorized to be used for a commercial purpose that stores, parks, services, sells, or rents vehicles or other materials, subject to specified conditions.

Existing law prohibits a city, county, or city and county from prohibiting or conditioning the installation of an electrified security fence, as described above, except for requiring an administrative permit to confirm a fence abutting a property in residential use, or within feet of a public park, childcare facility, recreation center, community center, or school facility, meets certain requirements. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2028.

Existing law, starting January 1, 2028, authorizes an owner of real property to install and operate on their property an electrified security fence that is powered by an electrical energizer, and used to protect and secure commercial, manufacturing, or industrial property, or property zoned under another designation, but legally authorized to be used for a commercial, manufacturing, or industrial purpose, subject to specified conditions and subject to prohibitions imposed by a city, county, or city and county through a local ordinance.

This bill would indefinitely extend the operation of the electrified security fence provisions subject to repeal on January 1, 2028, and would repeal the provisions that become operative on January 1, 2028. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. MAJORITY NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section of the Civil Code , as amended by

Section of

Chapter of the Statutes of 2025, is amended to read: 835. (

a) As used in this chapter, “electrified security fence” means any fence, other than an electrified fence as defined in

Section of the Food and Agricultural Code, that meets the following requirements:

(1) The electrified security fence is powered by an electrical energizer, driven by solar-charged batteries of no more than volts of direct current, with both of the following output characteristics: (

A) The impulse repetition rate does not exceed hertz (hz). (

B) The impulse duration does not exceed milliseconds, or 10 of a second.

(2) The electrified security fence is used to protect and secure manufacturing or industrial property, or property zoned under another designation, but legally authorized to be used for a commercial purpose that stores, parks, services, sells, or rents vehicles, vessels, equipment, materials, freight, or utility infrastructure within an outdoor lot or yard, provided that the secured area does not include any existing residential or hospitality uses. (

b) An owner of real property may install and operate an electrified security fence on their property, subject to all of the following:

(1) The property is not located in a residential zone and falls within the description of property described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(2) The electrified security fence meets the standards and specifications of the International Electrotechnical Commission for electric security fence energizers in “International Standard IEC 60335,

Part 2-76:2018.”

(3) The electrified security fence is identified by prominently placed warning signs that are legible from both sides of the fence. At a minimum, the warning signs shall meet all of the following criteria: (

A) The warning signs are placed at each gate and access point, and at intervals along the electrified security fence not exceeding feet. (

B) The warning signs are adjacent to any other signs relating to chemical, radiological, or biological hazards. (

C) The warning signs are marked with a written warning or a commonly recognized symbol for shock, a written warning or a commonly recognized symbol to warn people with pacemakers, and a written warning or commonly recognized symbol about the danger of touching the electrified security fence in wet conditions.

(4) The height of the electrified security fence does not exceed feet or feet higher than an existing nonelectrified perimeter fence or wall, whichever is greater. The electrified security fence shall be located behind a nonelectrified perimeter fence or wall that is not less than five feet in height.

(5) The electrified security fence includes a device that enables first responders to deactivate the electrified security fence in response to an emergency, if utilized by a city, county, or city and county. (

c) The electrified security fence may interface with a monitored alarm device in a manner that enables the alarm system to transmit a signal intended to summon the business, a monitoring service, or both the business and a monitoring service, in response to an intrusion or burglary. (d)

(1) An owner of real property not specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (

a) shall not install or operate an electrified security fence where a local ordinance prohibits the installation or operation of an electrified security fence. A local ordinance may prohibit the installation and operation of an electrified security fence that does not comply with subdivisions (

a) to (c), inclusive. A local ordinance that prohibits or regulates only the installation or operation of an electrified fence as defined in

Section of the Food and Agricultural Code shall not be construed to apply to an electrified security fence.

(2) For property specified under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), and in compliance with subdivisions (

a) to (c), inclusive, a city, county, or city and county ordinance, regulation, or code shall not prohibit the installation and operation of an electrified security fence, nor require a permit or approval that is in addition to an alarm system permit issued by the city, county, or city and county. A city, county, or city and county may require an administrative permit confirming the fence meets the requirements of this

section if it is on a property abutting a property in residential use, or within feet of a public park, childcare facility, recreation center, community center, or school facility. (

e) Nothing in this

section shall be construed to alter the authority of a jurisdiction to adopt and enforce an ordinance relating to nonelectrified perimeter fences or walls as legally authorized, if applicable. (f)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>This

section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.</xhtml:p>"?>

SEC. 2.

Section of the Civil Code , as added by

Section of

Chapter of the Statutes of 2024, is repealed. <caml:Num>835.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_53D7AAB7-64B5-4044-9F73-BEAB67F6B047"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>As used in this chapter, “electrified security fence” means any fence, other than an electrified fence as defined in

Section of the Food and Agricultural Code, that meets the following requirements:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The fence is powered by an electrical energizer with both of the following output characteristics:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The impulse repetition rate does not exceed hertz (hz).</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The impulse duration does not exceed milliseconds, or <caml:Fraction><caml:Numerator>10</caml:Numerator><caml:Denominator>1000</caml:Denominator></caml:Fraction> of a second.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The fence is used to protect and secure commercial, manufacturing, or industrial property, or property zoned under another designation, but legally authorized to be used for a commercial, manufacturing, or industrial purpose.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>An owner of real property may install and operate an electrified security fence on their property, subject to all of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The property is not located in a residential zone.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The fence meets the international standards and specifications of the International Electrotechnical Commission for electric fence energizers in “International Standard IEC 60335,

Part 2-76.”</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The fence is identified by prominently placed warning signs that are legible from both sides of the fence.

At a minimum, the warning signs shall meet all of the following criteria:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The warning signs are placed at each gate and access point, and at intervals along the fence not exceeding feet.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The warning signs are adjacent to any other signs relating to chemical, radiological, or biological hazards.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(C)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The warning signs are marked with a written warning or a commonly recognized symbol for shock, a written warning or a commonly recognized symbol to warn people with pacemakers, and a written warning or commonly recognized symbol about the danger of touching the fence in wet conditions.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(4)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The height of the fence does not exceed feet or feet higher than an existing perimeter fence, whichever is greater.

The electrified security fence shall be located behind a perimeter fence that is not less than feet in height.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The electrified security fence may interface with a monitored alarm device in a manner that enables the alarm system to transmit a signal intended to summon the business, a monitoring service, or both the business and a monitoring service, in response to an intrusion or burglary.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(d)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>An owner of real property shall not install or operate an electrified security fence where a local ordinance prohibits the installation or operation of an electrified security fence.

A local ordinance that prohibits or regulates only the installation or operation of an electrified fence as defined in

Section of the Food and Agricultural Code does not apply to an electrified security fence.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>If a local ordinance allows the installation and operation of an electrified security fence, the installation and operation of the fence shall meet the requirements of that ordinance and the requirements of subdivision (b).</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(e)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>This

section shall become operative on January 1, 2028.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection>"?>

SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that uniformity of standards in the permitting of electrified security fences that meet the criteria of

Section of the Civil Code is a matter of statewide concern and is not a municipal affair as that term is used in

Section of

Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Sections and of this act amending and repealing

Section of the Civil Code apply to all cities, including charter cities.