Ontario, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Razor wire
- Prohibited on all walls/fences citywide
- Barbed wire
- Banned in residential and commercial zones; OK industrial if not visible above wall
- Electrified fence
- Banned in residential zones; misdemeanor if unlawfully installed
- Residential fence materials
- Ornamental steel/iron, wood, or PVC
- Code Section
- Development Code 6.02.010, 6.02.020.B
Summary
Ontario prohibits razor wire on any wall or fence citywide, and bans barbed wire and electrified fences in residential, commercial, and residential mixed-use districts. Residential fences must be ornamental steel/iron, wood, PVC, or decorative masonry; chain link in front and street-side yards is allowed only where it is the predominant existing material.
6.02.010: Prohibited Materials. The following materials shall be prohibited in the construction and/or installation of walls, fences, and obstructions: A. Walls or fences containing razor wire or any other material or application considered by the Planning Director to be unsafe, shall be prohibited. B. Walls and/or fences containing barbed wire shall be prohibited within residential and commercial zoning districts, and within mixed-use zoning districts and overlay districts for residential or commercial purposes. C. Walls and/or fences containing electrified wire, and the installation of electrified fences, shall be prohibited within residential zoning districts, and in conjunction with residential development in mixed-use zoning districts and overlay districts for residential purposes.
Full Breakdown
Ontario Development Code Section 6.02.010 (Prohibited Materials) bans razor wire (and any material the Planning Director deems unsafe) on all walls and fences. Barbed wire is prohibited in residential and commercial zoning districts and in mixed-use/overlay districts used for residential or commercial purposes; electrified wire and electrified fences are prohibited in residential districts and in residential mixed-use/overlay districts. Section 6.02.015.E requires metal fences to be ornamental iron, tube steel, chain link, or wire mesh of at least 4 in. x 4 in. x 12.5 gauge.
For residential materials (6.02.020.B.3), fences must be ornamental steel or iron, wood, or PVC; visible walls must be decorative masonry (brick, split-face/slump block) with a decorative cap (grout caps prohibited). Chain link in single-family front and street-side yards is allowed only where it is the predominant neighborhood material as determined by the Planning Director (6.02.020.B.6). In industrial zones, barbed wire is allowed only if it does not project above the wall/fence so as to be visible from public areas (6.02.025.B.6), and electrified fences are permitted under strict conditions in non-residential zones (6.02.025.E).
Violations & Fines
Prohibited materials are abated through Planning Director review and Community Improvement enforcement (6.02.005.B). Installing or operating an electrified fence in violation of the code is expressly declared unlawful and a misdemeanor (6.02.025.E.1.i).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put barbed wire on my residential fence in Ontario?
Is razor wire ever allowed?
Can I use a chain-link fence in my front yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ontario
California rules heatmap·Compare Ontario to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle material restrictions.