Long Beach Permit Requirements Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Long Beach fence permit requirements are governed by a combination of LBMC Chapter 21.43 (Zoning Code – Fences and Garden Walls) and the city's locally amended California Building Code. Chapter 21.43 establishes the zoning height limits and material restrictions that all fences must meet regardless of permit status. The California Building Code, as locally adopted, sets the thresholds for when a building permit is required: fences of wood, chain link, or wrought iron at or below 6 feet 6 inches are generally permit-exempt under the building code, but Long Beach requires Planning Bureau review before installation in all cases to confirm the fence complies with zoning setbacks, height limits by yard location, and prohibited materials.

For masonry, concrete block, brick, or stucco walls, a building permit is required for any wall exceeding 4 feet in height. The permit application must include structural engineering drawings prepared and stamped by a California-licensed structural engineer, as these materials are susceptible to seismic loading. When a fence is constructed on top of a retaining wall, the combined height of the retaining wall and the fence above it is used to determine the applicable permit threshold. Fences in the front yard are limited to 3 feet (or 4 feet in City Council-designated special fence height areas, with the top foot in wrought iron or chain link), and any front yard fence installation requires advance Planning Bureau review regardless of height or material. Height is measured from the highest finished grade on either side of the fence. Contact the Development Permit Center at (562) 570-5223, ext. 3, or visit longbeach.gov/lbcd for permit applications and fee schedules.