Chino Hills, CA Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

The City of Chino Hills Building Department exempts most ordinary residential fences from a building permit. According to the city's permit-exemption guidance, freestanding walls and/or fences 6 feet or less in height located within the required side and rear yard setback area, or 4 feet or less in the required front yard setback area, do not require a building permit. This mirrors the California Building Code exemption for fences not over 6 feet, but adds the city's front-yard distinction. A building permit IS required, however, for retaining walls, and for any combination of fence and wall exceeding 6 feet in total height. Beyond the building-permit question, the fence must still comply with the zoning height and material limits in Development Code 16.06.120 and the corner sight-visibility rules in 16.06.080, so a fence can be permit-exempt yet still need to meet the 4-foot front / 6-foot side-rear caps. Owners with hillside lots, slopes that are cut into, or grade differences should confirm requirements with the Community Development Department at 14000 City Center Drive, (909) 364-2740, because retaining walls and combined wall-and-fence assemblies are treated differently and may require engineered plans.