San Jacinto, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Chapter 17.315 (Fences, Walls, and Hedges) applies in all zones. A property in an SP (Specific Plan) Zone or under a planned development permit follows the specific plan standards or permit conditions instead (§ 17.315.010). Table 3-4 in § 17.315.020 ties height to the setback area. In a front yard setback area, the RE and RR zones allow 4 ft. open or solid fencing, with an additional 2 ft open on top for an overall height of 6 ft. The RL, RM, RH and RVH zones allow 4 ft. open or solid fencing, and so do all other zones. Interior side yards, street side yards and rear yards allow 6-ft open or solid fencing in every zone except Industrial Zones, which allow 8-ft. A fence that extends into the front yard area is reduced to the front yard limit. An asterisk on several rows warns that specific uses require different heights set elsewhere in the code or in a use or development permit.

Two location notes follow the table. A fence or wall in a required street side setback area cannot extend closer than 20 feet to the front lot line, or the § 17.305.150 line if that is more restrictive, and side yard return fences are set back at least five feet from the front of the structure.

Height is measured from the highest finished grade of the ground abutting the fence to the top edge of the fence material, and adjacent grade cannot be artificially elevated (§ 17.315.040). On sloping ground, a solid fence of six feet is measured from the up-slope property so long as the total height, inclusive of any retaining wall, does not exceed 10 feet from the down-slope property.

At corners and driveways, § 17.305.150(C) bars any fence, wall, sign or landscape element above 30 inches within the traffic visibility area unless the City Engineer approves. At a street intersection the triangle is measured 25 feet along each street property line, and at a driveway it is 15 feet along the driveway and 15 feet along the street line. Under § 17.315.030, the approval authority can add up to two feet for noise or fugitive dust mitigation without a variance, and the Director can modify fencing on parcels exceeding 10,000 square feet with an approved wall and fence plan.