Murrieta, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Rear/side yard fence max
- 6 feet
- Front yard fence max
- 3 feet
- Corner sight-triangle max
- 24 inches
- See-through material bonus
- +2 feet, up to 8 ft
- Cap with full setback
- 10 feet
- Governing section
- § 16.22.030, Table 3-3
Summary
Table 3-3 in Murrieta's Development Code, Section 16.22.030, caps fence and wall height at six feet in rear and side yards, three feet in front yards, and just 24 inches at street and driveway corners for sight visibility, with see-through materials allowed to add two feet and a ten-foot cap where full setbacks are maintained.
Fences, hedges and walls may be erected/maintained to the heights shown in Table 3-3.
TABLE 3-3 MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF FENCES, HEDGES, AND WALLS Location Maximum Height (within Setback Areas) Rear and side yards (interior and street side) Six feet* Front yards Three feet*
At intersections of streets, alleys and driveways within traffic safety sight areas. Twenty-four (24) inches
* The director may approve additional height to enclose or screen areas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-23: A Codification of the General Ordinances of the City of Murrieta, California through Ord. 634-26, passed 7-7-2026).
Full Breakdown
030: six feet in rear and side yards (interior and street-side), three feet in front yards, and just 24 inches at the intersections of streets, alleys and driveways, inside the traffic safety sight triangle, so drivers and pedestrians can see around the corner. The director can approve extra height above the six- and three-foot base limits to enclose or screen a site. 040 then carves out see-through exceptions: a fence normally capped at three feet can go up to five feet if built of see-through material like wrought iron or grille work, and a fence normally capped at six feet can go up to eight feet under the same see-through condition.
Fences and walls can reach ten feet anywhere the required yard setback is maintained, and the director may approve heights beyond ten feet case by case. 050 measures height off the higher of two adjoining grades when the ground drops less than two feet between parcels; where the grade difference is two feet or more, the director sets the measurement point. 020.
Violations & Fines
Building a solid fence over the Table 3-3 limit, or over 24 inches within a corner sight triangle, without director approval is a Development Code violation under Section 1.32.010: cited as an infraction starting at $100 for a first offense and up to $500 for repeat violations within a year, or prosecuted as a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 and as much as six months in jail. The director can also require the fence be shortened or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my backyard fence be in Murrieta?
What's the fence height limit near my driveway or a street corner?
Can I build a fence taller than the code's normal limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murrieta
How Murrieta compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Murrieta to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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