Santa Monica limits front yard fences to 42 inches (3.5 feet) and side/rear yard fences to 8 feet under SMMC Β§9.21.050. Ornamental attachments may add up to 12 inches.
Under SMMC Β§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
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Santa Monica, CA
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Santa Monica, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
See how other cities in Los Angeles County handle height limits.
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