Fences under 6 feet in residential side/rear yards and under 3.5 feet in front yards generally do not require a building permit in LA. Fences exceeding these heights, retaining walls over 3 feet, and any fence with electrical components require LADBS permits. Block wall fences need engineering review.
LAMC Section 91.106 exempts masonry or concrete fences not over 3.5 feet and other fences not over 10 feet from building permit requirements. Masonry or concrete fences exceeding 3.5 feet require a building permit. Front yard fences exceeding the 3.5-foot height limit in R zones require Zoning Administrator approval under Section 12.24 X.7. Fence Height District applications under Section 13.10 require specific wrought iron specifications: vertical members no greater than 5/8 inches diameter spaced at least 4 inches apart, horizontal members no greater than 1 inch diameter spaced at least 18 inches apart, and pilasters with 24-inch maximum dimension spaced at least 8 feet apart.
Building fences without required permits subjects owners to LADBS enforcement action. Illegally constructed fences may require removal. Permit fees vary based on the scope of work.
Los Angeles, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
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