Lancaster's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Lancaster, California, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls up to 6 feet tall are allowed in any required yard on commercial-zoned property in Lancaster, and a fence up to 3.5 feet may sit on top for safety. Going higher requires a director's review, per Municipal Code Section 17.12.130.

Key details: Base retaining wall cap: 6 feet in any yard. Safety fence on top of fill wall: Up to 3.5 feet allowed. Director's review max height: Up to 8 feet with approval. Applies to: C zone required yards. Governing section: Municipal Code § 17.12.130.B.2.a.

Building a retaining wall or a topping fence taller than the code allows without first obtaining the director's review authorized by Section 17.12.130.B.2.a.7 is a Title 17 violation enforceable under Section 17.04.220 and Chapter 1.12: a misdemeanor carries up to a $1,000 fine and/or six months in county jail, while an infraction citation escalates from $100 to $200 to $500 for repeat violations within a year, with each day the noncompliant wall remains a separate offense.

Material Restrictions

Lancaster bans several fencing materials outright for residential properties. Municipal Code Sec. 17.08.130.I prohibits chain link, barbed wire, razor wire, electrical fencing, glass, and 'other similar objects of a hazardous characteristic' anywhere fences enclose a residential use, with a narrow carve-out for temporary chain-link fencing on vacant lots.

Key details: Prohibited materials: Chain link, barbed/razor wire, electric, glass. Governing section: Municipal Code Sec. 17.08.130.I. Exception: Temporary chain link on vacant lots. Exception requires: Director's review, Sec. 17.08.130.J. Applies to: All residential fence uses.

Installing a permanent chain-link, barbed-wire, razor-wire, electrified, or glass-topped fence around a residential property violates the flat prohibition in Section 17.08.130.I and is subject to code enforcement correction, typically an order to remove or replace the material. The only lawful use of chain link under this section is as temporary fencing on a vacant lot approved through the director's review process in Section 17.08.130.J.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lancaster actively enforces its material restrictions requirements.

Fence Permit Requirements

A Lancaster fence that would exceed the standard 4-foot front-yard or 6-foot side/rear-yard limit needs a director's review under Municipal Code Sec. 17.08.130.E. The review can raise the allowed height by up to 25 percent above the base standard, but only after the applicant satisfies five specific findings tied to the property and neighborhood.

Key details: Permit type: Director's review (discretionary). Max height increase: 25% above base table. Front-yard ceiling with review: About 5 feet. Side/rear ceiling with review: About 7.5 feet. Findings required: 5, under Sec. 17.08.130.E.

Building a fence above the 25-percent height ceiling allowed under Section 17.08.130.E, or building above the base table height without first obtaining the required director's review, puts the structure out of compliance and subject to code enforcement correction, including removal or a reduction in height to the level actually approved or otherwise permitted by Section 17.08.130.D.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lancaster actively enforces its fence permit requirements requirements.

Height Limits

Lancaster caps residential fences at 4 feet within the front yard setback or a corner lot's street-side setback, and at 6 feet everywhere else in the side or rear yard. Municipal Code Sec. 17.08.130.D sets the two-tier table, and Sec. 17.08.130.C fixes how the height itself is measured from finished grade.

Key details: Front/corner side yard limit: 4 feet. Side/rear yard limit: 6 feet. Governing section: Municipal Code Sec. 17.08.130.C-D. Fence defined to include: Hedges and walls. Setback from curb: 12 feet minimum, if no utility line.

A fence built taller than the 4-foot front-yard or 6-foot side/rear-yard limit in Section 17.08.130.D without the director's review authorized by subsection E is out of compliance and subject to code enforcement correction. Because the section defines 'fence' to include hedges and walls, an overgrown hedge or masonry wall that exceeds the applicable height is treated the same as a noncompliant fence under this standard.

The Bottom Line

Lancaster is tougher than many cities when it comes to fence regulations. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Lancaster, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Lancaster's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.