Fence Regulations in Pomona, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Pomona or are thinking about moving there, fence regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Pomona has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of fence regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Material Restrictions

Pomona bans several fence and wall materials outright under Zoning and Development Code Sec. 620.E.3.c.1.ii, including chain link, barbed wire, razor wire, concertina wire and electric fencing, plus scrap materials like old tires, garage doors and sheet metal. Only masonry, sealed wood, wrought iron, vinyl and similar standard building materials are allowed for permanent fences and walls.

Key details: Chain link: Prohibited for permanent fencing. Barbed/razor/electric fencing: Prohibited citywide. Scrap material: Tires, sheet metal, etc. prohibited. Permitted materials: Masonry, sealed wood, wrought iron, vinyl. Temporary chain link: Allowed only during construction.

An existing fence built from prohibited material, such as chain link or barbed wire, is enforced the same way as any other Zoning Code violation: through the City Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-7, which allows prosecution as an infraction (up to $500 for a repeat violation within a year) or a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, with continuing violations counted day by day until the material is removed or replaced.

Retaining Walls

No retaining wall in Pomona may exceed 10 feet in height under Zoning and Development Code Sec. 620.G, and any wall taller than 8 feet must be landscaped per the Code's planting and fence standards. Stacked retaining walls on the same lot need at least 3 feet of horizontal spacing between them.

Key details: Max retaining wall height: 10 feet citywide. Landscaping trigger: Walls over 8 feet. Minimum spacing between stacked walls: 3 feet horizontally. Height measured: Top of wall to lowest adjacent grade. Public agency walls: Exempt from Sec. 620.G.

A retaining wall built over the 10-foot cap, or without the required landscaping above 8 feet, is enforced like any other Zoning Code violation under the City Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-7: an infraction (up to $500 for repeat violations within a year) or, at the City Attorney's discretion, a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, with each day the oversized wall remains a separate offense.

Height Limits

Pomona caps side and rear yard fences at 6 feet under Zoning and Development Code Sec. 620.E.3.b's Fence Type VI standard, with a 10-foot Type VII allowance for industrial screening walls. Front yard fence height instead depends on the frontage module assigned to the lot under Sec. 490.B.3.b, ranging from no fence allowed up to 8 feet, each set back at least 3 feet from the street lot line.

Key details: Side/rear yard fence max: 6 feet (Type VI). Industrial side/rear wall max: 10 feet (Type VII). Front yard fence range: 0-8 feet by frontage module. Street lot line setback: 3 feet minimum. Governing code: Zoning Code, effective July 1, 2024.

Pomona's Zoning Code enforcement runs through the City Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-7: an oversized or unpermitted fence can be prosecuted as an infraction ($100 first offense, $200 second, up to $500 for repeat violations within a year) or, at the City Attorney's discretion, as a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense.

Fence Permit Requirements

Every new fence, wall, or required buffer/screen built in Pomona needs a Planning Division permit before construction, processed as a Ministerial Permit under Zoning and Development Code Sec. 620.E.2.d. The only carve-out: replacing an existing legal fence with matching material along less than half its total length doesn't require a new fence and wall permit.

Key details: Permit type: Ministerial Permit (Sec. 1170.C). Reviewing body: Planning Division / Approving Authority. Permit validity: 12 months, renewable annually. Filing track: Sec. 1110 application process. No-permit exception: Same-material replacement under 50% of length.

Building or replacing a fence without the required Ministerial Permit exposes the property owner to the City Code's general violation provision, Sec. 1-7: prosecution as an infraction (fines of $100, $200 and up to $500 for a first, second and later violation within one year) or, at the City Attorney's discretion, as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in county jail. An unpermitted fence remains a continuing violation until it is either permitted after the fact or removed.

Neighbor Fence Rules

Pomona follows CA Civil Code Section 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) requiring shared cost for boundary fences. Spite fences exceeding 10 ft are a private nuisance under CA Civil Code Section 841.4.

Key details: State Law: CA Civil Code Section 841. Cost Sharing: Equal share for boundary fences. Spite Fences: Over 10 ft = nuisance (CC Section 841.4). Disputes: Civil court resolution.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Pomona gives residents more flexibility on neighbor fence rules.

The Bottom Line

Pomona'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 Pomona is broadly strict or permissive.

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