Newport Beach, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

040(A)(1) sets the baseline: front setback fences, hedges, and walls cap out at 42 inches, while rear and interior side setback fencing can run 6 feet in residential and commercial districts, rising to 8 feet in industrial districts that back up to housing. Fences along the Newport Bay waterfront, the Pacific Ocean shoreline, the Old Channel of the Santa Ana River, and West Newport's channels are held to 42 inches from existing grade. On Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island, Corona del Mar, West Newport, and the bay fronts of Little and Balboa Island, front setback fences can reach 5 feet, but everything above 2 feet must be at least 40 percent open, such as wrought iron, latticework, or pickets, per subsection (B).

Height is always measured from the existing grade prior to construction, per subsection (D), not from any grade later added by fill. 130 requires a triangular sight-visibility area at street, alley, and driveway intersections (a City Standard 110-L triangle at street corners, 15 feet at a street-alley intersection, 10 feet between two alleys, and 5 feet at a driveway), inside which fences, walls, and other obstructions cannot rise above 30 inches and landscaping must stay under 24 inches. 040(A)(5) for a raised top-of-slab lot, provided the portion above 6 feet is at least 60 percent open. The Community Development Department reviews fence plans for zoning compliance before any building permit issues for taller or masonry fencing.