Long Beach's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Long Beach, California, there are 6 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.

Height Limits

Front yard fences limited to 3 feet. Side and rear yard fences up to 6 feet 6 inches. LBMC §21.43.020 governs.

Key details: Code: LBMC §21.43.020. Front Yard: 3 feet max (4 ft in special areas). Side/Rear: 6 ft 6 in max. Permit: Required for masonry >4 ft or wrought iron >6.5 ft. Historic Districts: Certificate of Appropriateness required.

Fences exceeding height limits without approval are code enforcement violations. The City requires removal or modification to comply with zoning standards. Contact Long Beach Development Permit Center at (562) 570-5223 for variance inquiries.

Neighbor Fence Rules

Boundary fences in Long Beach follow CA Civil Code §841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) requiring shared cost. Spite fences over 10 ft built to annoy neighbors are a private nuisance under CA Civil Code §841.4.

Key details: Shared Cost: CA Civil Code §841. Spite Fences: Over 10 ft = private nuisance. State Law: CA Civil Code §841.4. Disputes: Civil matter between neighbors.

Building a fence on or over a property line without proper consent or survey may result in code enforcement action and potential civil liability. Disputes may be resolved through the Good Neighbor Fence Act (Civil Code 841) mediation process.

Material Restrictions

Long Beach regulates fence materials under LBMC Title 21 Ch. 21.43. Barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited in residential zones. Chain link fences require Planning Bureau approval in certain districts.

Key details: Barbed Wire: Prohibited in residential zones. Chain Link: Planning approval may be required. Code: LBMC Ch. 21.43. Materials Review: Planning Bureau approval.

Use of prohibited materials (barbed wire, razor wire) or construction with non-approved materials results in code enforcement action requiring removal or modification. Over-height walls without permits face stop-work orders and potential demolition requirements.

Permit Requirements

A fence permit is required in Long Beach for fences over 4 feet or retaining walls over 4 feet. Fences over 6 ft 6 in require engineered drawings. Planning Bureau review is required for location, height, and materials.

Key details: Permit Threshold: Over 4 ft height. Engineering Required: Over 6 ft 6 in. Code: LBMC §18.05.030. Review: Planning Bureau approval required.

Construction of fences without required permits is a code enforcement violation. Unpermitted fences may need to be removed or modified. Contact (562) 570-5223 (LBCD) for permit inquiries.

Pool Barriers

Pool barriers in Long Beach must be at least 60 inches (5 ft) per CA Building Code Title 24 and the Swimming Pool Safety Act. Self-closing, self-latching gates required. At least one additional safety feature mandatory.

Key details: Min Height: 60 inches (5 ft). Gates: Self-closing, self-latching. Additional Safety: At least 1 extra feature required. State Law: CA HSC §115920-115929.

Non-compliant barriers: immediate correction required. Fines $100 to $500. Pool use prohibited until barriers meet code. Liability exposure for accidents.

Compared to other cities, Long Beach takes a harder line on pool barriers. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls under 2 ft require no permit in Long Beach. Walls up to 4 ft are exempt unless supporting surcharge or sloping earth. Walls over 4 ft require a building permit and engineered drawings.

Key details: No Permit: Under 2 ft. Exempt Up To: 4 ft (with conditions). Permit Required: Over 4 ft. Engineering: Required for over 4 ft.

Unpermitted walls: stop-work order, required engineering review, potential demolition. Fines $200 to $1,000.

The Bottom Line

Long Beach's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Long Beach is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Long Beach's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.