Los Angeles permit
Fence permit in Los Angeles
LA fences over 3.5 ft (front yard) or 6 ft (side/rear) need a permit. HPOZ neighborhoods have tighter rules. We map yours.
Permit needed?
Above 6 ft side/rear
OR above 3.5 ft solid in the front yard (LAMC 12.22C20(f)). Below those = no permit needed for residential.
Typical cost
$20-100/linear ft
Chain-link $15-25/ft. Wood $30-60/ft. Vinyl $40-80/ft. Masonry / stucco $60-200/ft.
License needed
Owner-builder OK
Standard residential fence under $500 doesn't require a contractor. Above that, C-13 (fencing) or B (general).
Permit speed
Same day at LADBS
Pulled via PermitLA, no plan check. Inspection happens after install if permit was required.
Do you actually need a permit?
Most LA residential fences don't need a building permit. The thresholds:
- Side / rear yard, 6 ft or under: no permit required.
- Front yard, 3.5 ft solid or under: no permit required.
- Front yard, 3.5-8 ft with open construction (≤60% solid): no permit IF the upper portion is open. Solid same height = permit required.
- Anything taller, or solid front fence over 3.5 ft: building permit required + structural review for wind load.
- Pool barrier fence: permit required regardless of height — must comply with CRC R331.
Source: LAMC 12.22C20(f) + LADBS Information Bulletin P/BC 2020-070. HPOZ + Coastal + Specific Plan areas may have stricter rules — see gotchas below.
5 LA fence gotchas before you build
The 3.5 ft front yard rule (most violated)
LAMC 12.22C20(f) caps front-yard fences at 3.5 ft if solid construction. You CAN go up to 8 ft if the upper portion is 'open work' (no more than 60% solid — think wrought iron, picket spacing). But solid wood fences over 3.5 ft in the front yard need a building permit + may not be approvable. This catches a LOT of homeowners after the install.
Corner lot visibility triangle (LAMC 12.22C20(f))
On corner lots, fences within 10 ft of the curb cut (or driveway entrance) cannot exceed 3.5 ft. The rule protects sight lines for traffic + pedestrians. Inspectors check this aggressively. If you're on a corner lot, the front + side-street setback both apply — meaning your effective fence-able area is smaller than you'd think.
HPOZ neighborhoods regulate material + style
If your property is in a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (Highland Park, Angelino Heights, Spaulding Square, etc.), the HPOZ Board reviews fence material, height, and style against the district's Preservation Plan. Chain-link is almost always rejected. Picket fences are often required to match historic patterns. Plan for an extra 4 weeks for HPOZ design review.
Property line surveys matter more than you think
A fence built 6 inches inside YOUR property line is yours alone. A fence built 6 inches over the line creates an adverse-possession risk for you AND requires removal at your expense if the neighbor challenges it. For a $500 fence project, a $1,500 surveyor seems like overkill — until you're in a property-line dispute with the neighbor 5 years later. At minimum, locate the survey monuments yourself before posting.
Mulholland Scenic + Coastal Zone add review
Properties along Mulholland Drive (Mulholland Scenic Specific Plan) or in the Coastal Zone (Venice, Pacific Palisades, etc.) need additional design review for fences visible from the corridor. Tall solid fences are often denied. Plan for 4-8 extra weeks of review for these areas.
Free site plan from your address
Auto-generated site plan showing your parcel polygon + the fence path you select + height callouts. Useful for HOA submittal, contractor pricing, or LADBS permit application.
- Site plan — parcel polygon, existing buildings, proposed fence path. Available now.
- Per-segment fence height + material callouts — flagging where each segment hits LAMC 12.22C20(f) limits. Coming next.
- Visibility-triangle overlay — auto-detects corner lots and shades the no-build area. Coming with rules engine.
Check your address first
Get the verdict + zoning + overlays + LADBS forms specific to your lot. Free, no signup.
Run feasibility check →Drawings we generate for you
Auto-drawn from your address using LARIAC orthoimagery, parcel polygons, and Microsoft Building Footprints.
- Site plan
What the code requires
Typical baseline for an R1 lot with no overlays. The wizard adjusts these for your specific zone + overlays (Hillside, HPOZ, VHFHSZ, Coastal, etc.). Every value cites its source code section.
| Rule | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Front yard max height | 3.5 ft | LAMC 12.22C20(f) |
| Side / rear max height | 6 ft | LAMC 12.22C20(f) |
| Max height without permit | 6 ft | LAMC 12.22C20(f) |
Additional requirements
- Corner-lot fences cannot block the visibility triangle at intersections (10 ft from curb cut).LAMC 12.22C20(f)