Fence Regulations in Ontario, CA (2026)
8 verified fence regulations for Ontario, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
In Ontario residential zones, walls and fences within a front yard may not exceed 3 feet, while interior side, rear, street-side, and subdivision-perimeter walls or fences may not exceed 6 feet. Anything in a required front or street-side setback that affects safe sight lines is capped at 3 feet.
3 ft front yard, 6 ft side/rear residential
Some RestrictionsOntario Development Code, Division 6.02, Section 6.02.020.C (Design Standards for Residential Zoning Districts -- Height) (Rev. 05.02.2023)
C. Height. The maximum height of a walls or fences located within a residential zoning district shall be as listed below. The wall height shall be measured on the street side or exterior side of the wall, from the top of the wall to the lowest adjacent finished grade. 1. Subdivision Perimeter Walls and Fences. Subdivision perimeter walls shall not exceed 6 FT in height... 2. Street Side Yard Wa...
Permit Requirements
Every wall, fence, and gate in Ontario is subject to Planning Director design review regardless of whether a building permit is needed. A building permit is separately required for fences and walls over 3 feet high and for retaining walls over 2 feet, and a right-of-way encroachment permit is required for anything in the public right-of-way.
Planning review + building permit over 3 ft
Some RestrictionsOntario Development Code Section 6.02.005.B (Applicability); City of Ontario Building Permit FAQs (Community Development -- Building)
B. The design and location of all walls, fences, and gates shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning Director, regardless of whether a building permit is required for its construction. [Building Permit FAQs:] A permit is required for retaining walls over 2 ft. in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. A building permit is required for: concrete bloc...
Neighbor Fence Rules
Ontario lets neighbors build a wall or fence on a common interior side or rear property line for division or security. On corner lots and in front yards the area between a fence and the sidewalk or curb must be fully landscaped and maintained, and nothing may be placed in the public right-of-way without an encroachment permit.
Setbacks, shared lines & corner-lot landscaping
Some RestrictionsOntario Development Code, Division 6.02, Section 6.02.020.D (Design Standards for Residential Zoning Districts -- Location) (Rev. 05.02.2023)
D. Location. 1. Interior Property Lines (Side and Rear). Where the side or rear property line of a lot is common with another lot's side or rear property line, a wall or fence may be constructed along the common property line for purposes of property division or security. 2. Street Side Property Lines. On a corner lot or reverse corner lot, where a side and rear property line of a lot is common...
Retaining Walls
Where grade differs between properties or a property and the public right-of-way, Ontario allows a wall or fence combined with a retaining wall above the normal height limit, but a retaining wall adjacent to the public right-of-way is capped at 3 feet, with a free wall up to 6 feet and an overall height of 9 feet; deeper cuts must be tiered.
Retaining walls 3 ft max near ROW; tiering required
Some RestrictionsOntario Development Code, Division 6.02, Section 6.02.020.C.5-C.6 (Walls and Fences in Combination with Retaining Walls; Tiered Retaining Wall Design) (Rev. 05.02.2023)
5. Walls and Fences in Combination with Retaining Walls. To accommodate possible differences in grade between two properties, or between a property and a public right-of-way, the Planning Director may approve walls and fences constructed in combination with retaining walls, which have an overall height in excess of the maximum wall height allowed by Paragraphs C.1 through C.4 of this Section. H...
Pool Barriers
Ontario requires any pool, spa, pond, or decorative water body deeper than 1.5 feet to be enclosed by a minimum 5-foot nonclimbable decorative fence or wall with self-closing gates. California's Swimming Pool Safety Act independently requires new or remodeled residential pools to have at least two drowning-prevention features, including a 60-inch enclosure that meets state standards.
5 ft pool fence local; 60 in. two-feature CA law
Heavy RestrictionsOntario Development Code, Division 6.02, Section 6.02.020.A.3 (Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, Spas, Ponds, and Decorative Bodies of Water) (Rev. 05.02.2023); see also Cal. Health & Safety Code 115922-115923
3. Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, Spas, Ponds, and Decorative Bodies of Water. Any swimming pool, hot tub, spa, pond, or decorative body of water that is more than 1.5 FT in depth, whether located above or below ground, shall be fully enclosed by a minimum 5-FT high decorative nonclimbable fence or wall, with decorative entrance and exit gates, and shall be constructed/installed pursuant to building...
Fence Requirements
Ontario fence requirements include zoning-based heights, setbacks, sight triangles, buffer walls on industrial edges, and CBC structural standards. Pool, retaining, and masonry walls have additional requirements.
Ontario Fence Requirements
Some RestrictionsMaterial Restrictions
Ontario restricts fence materials by zone. Residential front-yard fences require finished materials like wrought iron, wood, or masonry. Chain link is barred in front yards; barbed wire is industrial-only.
Ontario Fence Material Restrictions
Some RestrictionsApproved Materials
Ontario prohibits razor wire on any wall or fence citywide, and bans barbed wire and electrified fences in residential, commercial, and residential mixed-use districts. Residential fences must be ornamental steel/iron, wood, PVC, or decorative masonry; chain link in front and street-side yards is allowed only where it is the predominant existing material.
Razor wire banned; barbed/electric barred in residential
Heavy RestrictionsOntario Development Code, Division 6.02, Section 6.02.010 (Prohibited Materials) (Rev. 05.02.2023)
6.02.010: Prohibited Materials. The following materials shall be prohibited in the construction and/or installation of walls, fences, and obstructions: A. Walls or fences containing razor wire or any other material or application considered by the Planning Director to be unsafe, shall be prohibited. B. Walls and/or fences containing barbed wire shall be prohibited within residential and commerc...
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