Long Beach, CA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Wood/chain-link fence exempt to
- 7 feet above grade
- Masonry/concrete/brick fence exempt to
- 4 feet above grade
- Governing section
- LBMC § 18.04.020(B)(4)
- Zoning height limit cross-ref
- LBMC § 21.46.020
- Permitting authority
- Building Official, Dept. of Community Development
- Unpermitted work penalty
- up to $1,000 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
A fence built of wood, chain-link or similar material up to 7 feet tall needs no building permit in Long Beach; masonry, concrete, brick or heavy-timber fences drop that threshold to 4 feet. Above those heights, or in violation of the zoning code, a building permit from the Building Official is mandatory.
4.Fences constructed of materials other than concrete, masonry, brick, heavy timber or other similar materials that are not over seven (7) feet in height above grade. Fences constructed partially or in whole of concrete, masonry, brick, heavy timber or other similar materials that are not over four (4) feet in height above grade. Fences constructed without a building permit per this subsection shall also comply with the height limits of Section 21.46.020.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
020(B) lists building permit exemptions, and paragraph 4 sets the fence threshold directly: fences built of materials other than concrete, masonry, brick or heavy timber are exempt up to seven feet in height above grade, while fences built partially or wholly of concrete, masonry, brick, heavy timber or similar material are exempt only up to four feet. 010(A), which bars erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering or repairing any structure in the City without first obtaining a permit from the Building Official. 020(B) itself requires the fence not violate the Zoning Regulations.
020 of the Zoning Regulations, the permit exemption is a building-code carve-out, not a zoning override. 010's application procedures, and work is subject to inspection while under construction. 020(H) ordering the responsible party to halt work on the noncompliant portion until the violation is corrected and approval is obtained.
Violations & Fines
Building without a required permit is a Municipal Code violation under § 1.32.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail, or prosecuted as an infraction capped at $1,000, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense. The Building Official can issue a written stop-work order under § 18.03.020(H), and any unpermitted fence in violation of the Code is deemed a public nuisance the City may summarily abate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Long Beach fence need a building permit?
Can an exempt fence still violate the zoning code?
What happens if I build a tall fence without a permit?
Where do I apply for a fence permit in Long Beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle fence permit requirements.