Whittier, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Requirements (2026)

Beyond height, Whittier imposes design and placement requirements through its City Zoning Code (Title 18) and the Residential Walls & Fences program administered by Community Development. Front-yard fences must be built of non-view-obscuring material and be in substantial compliance with the City's design palette; non-conforming submittals are referred to the Planning Commission. View-obscuring street-side and side-yard fences must also substantially comply with the palette. Where columns support a front-yard fence, columns may not exceed 42 inches in height. Corner and reverse-corner lots are subject to open-corner / sight-visibility provisions (Zoning Code Section 18.64.050) so fences, walls, and hedges do not block visibility at intersections and driveways. In the R-3 Medium Multiple Residential Zone, Section 18.20.030(K) requires a six-foot-high wall along each interior lot line, and front-yard fences in that zone must be non-view-obscuring with columns no taller than 42 inches, 18 inches wide, spaced at least 8 feet on center, on a masonry base no taller than 24 inches. Taller front or street-side fences for security or screening can be approved up to eight feet with a minor conditional use permit and up to twelve feet with a conditional use permit. Always verify zone-specific requirements with Whittier Community Development.