Hawthorne, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Hawthorne Municipal Code Chapter 17.48 limits which materials may be used for fences and walls, a stricter approach than cities that allow chain link in residential yards. Under Section 17.48.020, the material used for construction of fences or walls shall be wrought iron, wood, decorative block (such as slump stone or split face), brick, stone or stone veneer, or a stucco finish to match the finish of the building. Materials such as chain link fences, wire mesh, or precision block (so as to create an 'industrial look') are not permitted. In front-yard and street-frontage locations, the view requirements effectively favor wrought iron or other open materials, since anything above eighteen inches must be more than ninety-five percent open to view with vertical elements no wider than three-quarters of an inch. The code also prohibits any fence charged or chargeable with electricity and limits barbed wire to specific security situations above a six-foot fence. Because every fence or wall requires a building permit and planning review in Hawthorne, the planning department confirms material compliance before construction. These local material rules go beyond the California Building Code, which addresses structural safety rather than aesthetic material types.