Westminster, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 side/rear yard max
- 6 feet
- Non-R1 side/rear yard max
- 8 feet
- Front yard / through-lot rear yard max
- 3 feet
- Corner visibility triangle
- 3 ft within 25 ft of intersection
- R1 lot abutting freeway
- minimum 8 feet required
- Flag lot front yard
- 6 ft (3 ft within 20-ft flagpole strip)
Summary
Westminster caps side- and rear-yard fences at 6 feet in the R1 single-family zone and 8 feet everywhere else, while front-yard fences and walls near street corners are held to 3 feet under Table 3-2 of Municipal Code § 17.300.030(B). A visibility triangle protects sightlines at intersections, and R1 lots backing a freeway must go taller, not shorter.
General Height Limitations. Fences, hedges, and walls shall comply with the height limitations outlined in Table 3-2. ... R1 zoning district, side and rear yard | 6 feet | When an R1-zoned property abuts a freeway right-of-way, fence, hedge, and wall height shall be no less than 8 feet. All zoning districts other than R1, side and rear yard | 8 feet | When the fence does not abut property in an R1 zoning district. ... Within the required front setback of any lot or the required rear yard of any through lot | 3 feet. ... Any point within 25 feet of the point of intersection or center of the corner cutoff of two streets or a street and an alley | 3 feet | In the case of a corner lot that abuts an alley, not more than 3 feet in height at any point within 10 feet of said point of intersection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).
Full Breakdown
030(B) sets fence, hedge and wall heights by location. In the R1 zoning district, side- and rear-yard fences top out at 6 feet, but if that R1 lot abuts a freeway right-of-way the fence must be at least 8 feet, the opposite of the usual cap. Every other zoning district allows 8 feet in the side and rear yard as long as the fence doesn't abut an R1 lot. 030(E). Flag lots get their own rule: 6 feet within the front yard setback, dropping to 3 feet within the 20-foot-wide flagpole strip.
Corner lots carry a visibility triangle: any point within 25 feet of a street intersection or corner cutoff is capped at 3 feet, tightening to a 10-foot radius where the corner abuts an alley, and the same 3-foot cap applies to the triangular sight area formed where a corner lot's rear yard meets the neighboring front yard. 030(C); within 5 feet of a public right-of-way, it's measured from the right-of-way grade instead.
Violations & Fines
The zoning code sets no fence-specific fine; enforcement runs through the citywide general penalty, Municipal Code § 1.12.010. An oversized or noncompliant fence is treated as a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail, or, if charged as an infraction, $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year and $500 for each later offense; the city may instead issue an administrative citation under Chapter 1.14 or seek civil abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a backyard fence in Westminster?
What is the height limit for a front-yard fence?
Are corner-lot fences restricted for visibility?
Does a fence next to a freeway have to be taller?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
How Westminster compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·California rules heatmap·Compare Westminster to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle height limits.