Burbank, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard setback (R-1)
- 4 ft fences/walls; 6 ft hedges
- Street-facing side yard (R-1)
- 6 ft to rear of house; 8 ft to rear of lot
- Outside front/side setback (R-1)
- 8 ft (12 ft hedges)
- Multi-family front/side (R-2-R-5)
- 8 ft (12 ft hedges)
- Code Section
- BMC 10-1-603, Table 10-1-603(A); 10-1-628, Table 10-1-628(A)
Summary
In Burbank's single-family R-1 zone, fences and walls are limited to 4 feet within the front-yard setback (6 feet for hedges), 6 to 8 feet within the street-facing side yard, and 8 feet elsewhere, all under Burbank Municipal Code Section 10-1-603 and Table 10-1-603(A).
b. The maximum allowed height of fences, walls, and hedges is as specified in Table 10-1-603(A). c. The height of a fence, wall, or hedge is measured from the highest abutting finished ground surface of the property upon which the fence, wall, or hedge is located. d. On sloped surfaces, portions of a fence, wall, or hedge may exceed the maximum height for the purpose of providing a stair step-design, but each stair-step section, as measured from the horizontal midpoint, may not exceed the maximum height. e. Within a required street-facing side yard (other than a reverse corner lot) fences, walls, and hedges are limited to six feet, except for that portion of the street-facing side yard between the rear of the main dwelling structure and the rear property line, the maximum allowed height of a fence, wall, or hedge is eight feet. On a reverse corner lot, fences, walls, and hedges within the street-facing side yard are subject to the same height limits as in the front yard.
Full Breakdown
Burbank regulates fence, wall, and hedge height by zone in Title 10 (Zoning Regulations) of the Burbank Municipal Code (BMC). For single-family (R-1 and R-1-H) lots, Table 10-1-603(A) caps fences and walls at 4 feet within the front-yard setback area and 6 feet for hedges in the front yard. Within the street-facing side-yard setback, fences, walls, and hedges are limited to 6 feet to the rear of the house and 8 feet from there to the rear of the lot; on a reverse corner lot the street-facing side yard is subject to the same limits as the front yard.
Outside the front and street-facing side-yard setbacks the limit is 8 feet (12 feet for hedges). Multi-family zones (R-2 through R-5) are governed by BMC Section 10-1-628 and Table 10-1-628(A), which set an 8-foot maximum (12 feet for hedges) in front and street-facing side yards. Height is measured from the highest abutting finished ground surface, and on sloped lots a stair-step design may exceed the limit so long as each step, measured from its horizontal midpoint, does not exceed the maximum. Ornamentation may rise up to 18 inches above the fence (to a maximum of 5 feet 6 inches) in the front yard if spaced at least 4 feet apart on center.
Violations & Fines
Fences exceeding the height limits in BMC 10-1-603 / 10-1-628 are zoning violations enforced by the Community Development Department; nonconforming fences and walls established before October 17, 2008 may be subject to abeyance under Section 10-1-19202, while newer over-height fences can be ordered lowered or removed and may require a Minor or Major Fence Exception Permit to remain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a backyard fence be in Burbank?
How tall can a front-yard fence be in Burbank?
How is fence height measured in Burbank?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burbank
How Burbank compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Burbank to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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