Height Limits: El Cajon vs San Diego
How do height limits rules compare between El Cajon, CA and San Diego, CA?
El Cajon and San Diego have similar restriction levels.
El Cajon, CA
San Diego County
El Cajon allows fences up to 6 feet without a building permit. Front yard and corner visibility areas limited to 42 inches. The director of community development may approve taller fences through an administrative zoning permit.
View full El Cajon rules →San Diego, CA
San Diego County
SDMC Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 3 limits open fences to 6 feet in required yards (front/side), increasing to 9 feet at the setback line. Solid fences in front yards limited to 3 feet. Rear yard fences up to 6 feet generally permitted. Height measured from the lower of adjacent finished grades.
View full San Diego rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | El Cajon | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| No Permit | Up to 6 ft | - |
| Front Yard | 42 inches max | - |
| Corner Lot | 42 in visibility triangle | - |
| Taller | Admin zoning permit | - |
| Front Yard (Solid) | - | 3 feet max |
| Front Yard (Open) | - | 6 feet at property line |
| Rear/Side Yard | - | 6 feet |
| At Setback Line | - | Up to 9 feet (open) |
| Code | - | SDMC Ch. 14, Art. 2, Div. 3 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
El Cajon FAQ
How tall can my fence be in El Cajon?
El Cajon allows fences up to 6 feet without a building permit. Front yard and corner visibility areas limited to 42 inches. The director of community development may approve taller fences through an administrative zoning permit.
What is the maximum fence height for front yards in El Cajon?
No Permit: Up to 6 ft. Front Yard: 42 inches max. Corner Lot: 42 in visibility triangle. Taller: Admin zoning permit.
San Diego FAQ
How tall can my fence be in San Diego?
Front yard: 3 feet solid, 6 feet open. Rear and side yards: 6 feet. Open fences can increase to 9 feet at the building setback line under SDMC Ch. 14, Art. 2, Div. 3.
What is an 'open' fence in San Diego code?
An open fence is one that is at least 25% open (not solid), such as wrought iron, chain link, or picket fences with spacing. Open fences get higher height allowances in front yards.
Compare other topics
See how El Cajon and San Diego compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool