Hawthorne, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed wire
- Banned residentially, § 17.48.010(D)
- Electric fences
- Banned in all zones, § 17.48.010(E)
- Front-yard chain link
- Prohibited, § 17.48.020(A)(1)
- Openness rule
- 95%+ open above 18 inches
Summary
Hawthorne's zoning code bans barbed wire and electrified fencing citywide, and residential front yards face an additional list of banned materials, including chain link, wire mesh and precision block built to look industrial.
No barbed wire is permitted except as specifically provided for by this chapter. No fence shall be constructed which is charged or chargeable with electricity. ... Materials such as chain link fences, wire mesh, or precision block (so as to create an "industrial look") shall not be permitted.
Full Breakdown
" The barbed-wire ban has a narrow carve-out elsewhere in the chapter for commercial and industrial classifications, where up to three strands of barbed wire may top a fence at least six feet tall, angled inward at forty-five degrees, so long as the combined height does not exceed ten feet; that exception does not apply to residential zones. " The same subsection requires any wall above eighteen inches to be more than ninety-five percent open to view, with vertical members no wider than three-quarters of an inch and no solid gap greater than eighteen inches, so even approved materials cannot be arranged to create a solid screen in the front yard.
Violations & Fines
Building an electrified fence, installing barbed wire in a residential zone, or using chain link, wire mesh or precision block in a front yard is a zoning violation subject to code enforcement, which can order removal or replacement of the noncompliant fencing as a condition of any related building permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put an electric fence around my Hawthorne backyard?
Is chain link allowed for a Hawthorne front-yard fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle material restrictions.