Santa Monica limits front yard fences to 42 inches (3.5 feet) and side/rear yard fences to 8 feet under SMMC §9.21.050. Ornamental attachments may add up to 12 inches.
Under SMMC §9.21.050, fences, walls, and hedges in the front yard may not exceed 42 inches (3.5 feet) in height. One pergola or similar feature up to 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide is permitted. Ornamental attachments may extend up to 12 inches above the maximum height with minimum 5-foot spacing. Side and rear yard fences may not exceed 8 feet. Height is measured in a continuum at each point. For fences within 5 feet of a public sidewalk, grade is measured from the sidewalk elevation. A fence on a retaining wall is measured from the lowest grade within 3 feet. A proposed amendment in December 2024 would increase front setback limits in multifamily zones (R2, R3, R4) from 3.5 to 5 feet.
Building without conforming to height limits may result in code enforcement action, orders to modify or remove the fence, and fines under SMMC Chapter 1.09.
Santa Monica, CA
Backyard chickens are allowed in Santa Monica with restrictions. Roosters are prohibited in residential areas due to noise. Livestock keeping is restricted b...
Santa Monica, CA
Dogs must be on a leash in all public areas in Santa Monica. Off-leash dogs are only permitted in designated dog parks. The city enforces leash laws through ...
Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica does not impose breed-specific legislation. All dogs must be licensed per CA Food & Ag Code §30500+. Dangerous dog determinations are based on i...
Santa Monica, CA
Feeding wildlife in Santa Monica public parks and beaches is discouraged. The city's property maintenance code addresses nuisance conditions from wildlife at...
Santa Monica, CA
Portable fire pits on private property in Santa Monica must comply with South Coast AQMD regulations. Burns are prohibited on spare-the-air days. Beach fires...
Santa Monica, CA
Properties in fire hazard zones near Santa Monica must maintain defensible space per CA PRC §4291. Santa Monica itself is largely urban/coastal with limited ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
See how other cities in Los Angeles County handle height limits.
See how Santa Monica's height limits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.