San Clemente, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard limit
- 3 ft 6 in
- Interior side/rear limit
- 6 ft
- Corner lot inner 5 ft
- 3 ft 6 in
- Height measured from
- finished grade to top
- Governing section
- SCMC § 17.24.090(C)
Summary
San Clemente restricts fences, walls and hedges in residential zones to 3 feet 6 inches in front yards and within 5 feet of a street-side property line, rising to 6 feet in interior side yards, rear yards and the rest of the lot. Height runs from finished grade to the top of the fence under Municipal Code Section 17.24.090.
C.Standards for Fences, Walls and Hedges in Residential Zones.1.Height Limits. Table 17.24.090 provides the maximum height limit for fences, walls, and hedges in residential zones. ... Area of Lot Maximum Height Limit Front Yard Setback Area 3 ft 6 in. Interior Side Setback Area 6 ft. Street-Side Setback Area Reverse corner lot: 3 ft 6 in. Corner lot: Within 5 feet from street-side property line: 3 ft. 6 in. Remaining width of street-side yard: 6 ft. Rear Yard Setback Area 6 ft.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Traffic: Supplement 30 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
090 sets the residential height ladder district by district. A front yard is capped at 3 feet 6 inches so driveways stay visible from the street and neighboring houses are not blocked from view, the stated purpose behind the stricter number. Interior side and rear setback areas allow 6 feet. Corner lots split the difference on the street-side yard: the first 5 feet nearest the street-side property line stays at 3 feet 6 inches, and the remaining width of that yard steps up to 6 feet, while a reverse corner lot holds the full street-side yard at 3 feet 6 inches.
Every other part of the lot allows 6 feet. Height is measured from the lower side of finished grade to the top of the fence, wall or hedge, and that measurement also covers pilasters, trellises and other structural elements that support it. A hedge counts under the same rule once planted vegetation forms a barrier similar in shape to a wall, whether it starts at grade or up to 48 inches above it. Nonresidential zones do not use this table at all; height and materials there are set case by case through a Development Permit or, for a listed historic resource, a Cultural Heritage Permit.
Property inside the city's Coastal Zone can face an added layer: a fence affecting coastal access or protected views may also need a Coastal Development Permit under the certified Local Coastal Program before the zoning limits above are the final word.
Violations & Fines
A fence, wall or hedge built over these limits without the required permit is a Municipal Code violation. Under Section 1.16.010, most code violations are prosecuted as misdemeanors punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail, or, at the City Attorney's discretion, as infractions carrying $100, $200 and $500 fines for a first, second and third offense within a year. Each day the oversized fence stays up counts as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a fence in my front yard in San Clemente?
What is the fence height limit for side and rear yards?
Does a hedge count the same as a fence for height purposes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Clemente
How San Clemente compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare San Clemente to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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