Yorba Linda, CA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Section 18.10.130 sets tiered height limits depending on where a wall or fence sits on a residential lot. Directly in front of the dwelling, for a width equal to the zone's minimum lot width, a wall or fence cannot exceed 36 inches, though the Community Development Director can approve minor increases up to 42 inches for decorative elements like pilasters after the City Traffic Engineer reviews the request. The rest of the required front yard can carry a wrought iron fence up to five feet, or a combination wall of five-foot masonry-and-wrought-iron construction where the masonry portion itself stays at three feet or under; exceeding those front-yard limits requires a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission, again after Traffic Engineer review.

Along side or rear property lines not adjacent to a public street, walls and fences can rise to six feet, and the Director can approve minor height adjustments there to meet pool-safety barrier requirements without a formal administrative-adjustment or variance application. Any wall or fence adjacent to a public street must sit back at least five feet from the street-abutting property line, though the Director can approve deviations based on topography or unique site conditions, and can administratively approve deviations of 10 percent or less from the standard height limits; deviations of 11 to 20 percent, and retaining or combination retaining/screen walls up to nine feet, need an administrative adjustment under Chapter 18.38.

Electrified fences are banned outright in every residential zone, and chainlink is prohibited on any front or street-side yard setback except around sports or tennis courts or in public parks. Fences meeting the code's "estate fence" definition in Section 18.04.060 can exceed these limits with a conditional use permit, and walls or fences built to create a gated or private community need Planning Commission approval as well.