Upland, CA Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

The City of Upland's fence regulations live in Development Code Chapter 17.13 (Fences and Walls), which governs height, placement, materials, and design but does not, in its text, specify a permit threshold. The permitting trigger comes from the California Building Code (CBC), which Upland adopts in Title 15 (Chapters 15.04 and 15.07). Under CBC Section 105.2, a building permit is generally NOT required for fences not over 7 feet high, and a permit IS required for taller fences. Because Upland's zoning caps most residential fences at 6 feet anyway, a typical 6-foot backyard fence usually needs no building permit but must still comply with the zoning standards in Chapter 17.13 and any sight-distance rules. Retaining walls over 4 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) require a building permit under CBC Section 105.2, as do walls supporting a surcharge. Planning review may also apply where a fence affects a setback, corner-lot vision triangle, or historic property. Because the Development Code is silent on the exact administrative trigger and the City frequently updates handouts, applicants should confirm with the Planning Division (909) 931-4130 and Building & Safety whether a specific project needs a permit before construction.