Lancaster, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front/corner side yard limit
- 4 feet
- Side/rear yard limit
- 6 feet
- Governing section
- Municipal Code Sec. 17.08.130.C-D
- Fence defined to include
- Hedges and walls
- Setback from curb
- 12 feet minimum, if no utility line
Summary
Lancaster caps residential fences at 4 feet within the front yard setback or a corner lot's street-side setback, and at 6 feet everywhere else in the side or rear yard. Municipal Code Sec. 17.08.130.D sets the two-tier table, and Sec. 17.08.130.C fixes how the height itself is measured from finished grade.
D.Fence Height Limits. Location Maximum Height Within front yard setback or corner lot side yard setback located at or behind the property line 4 feet Within side or rear yard setback or along/behind corner lot side yard setback located at or behind the property line 6 feet
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 10 - 2025).
Full Breakdown
' The height table in subsection D then splits the yard into two zones. A fence 'within front yard setback or corner lot side yard setback located at or behind the property line' is capped at 4 feet, while a fence 'within side or rear yard setback or along/behind corner lot side yard setback located at or behind the property line' may reach 6 feet. Beyond the table, subsection B requires that fences and walls sit 'located behind the property line and behind any utilities,' or at least 12 feet behind the face of the curb where utility documentation controls placement.
Special standards layer on top of the base table for certain project types: new production-home subdivisions of 3 or more lots need a 6-foot masonry wall along rear and side yards under subsection F, multifamily developments in the MDR and HDR zones need a masonry or tubular-steel wall up to 6 feet under subsection G, and subdivision perimeter walls must be built between 5 and 6 feet under subsection H.
Violations & Fines
A fence built taller than the 4-foot front-yard or 6-foot side/rear-yard limit in Section 17.08.130.D without the director's review authorized by subsection E is out of compliance and subject to code enforcement correction. Because the section defines 'fence' to include hedges and walls, an overgrown hedge or masonry wall that exceeds the applicable height is treated the same as a noncompliant fence under this standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my front-yard fence be in Lancaster?
Can my backyard fence be taller than the front fence?
How is fence height measured on a sloped lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lancaster
How Lancaster compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Lancaster to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle height limits.