Los Angeles County, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Max retaining wall height in required yard
- 6 ft
- Safety fence atop fill retaining wall
- 3.5 ft max (non-view-obscuring)
- Fill retaining wall counts toward fence height
- Yes
- Setback rule for adjacent wall
- 1 ft per 1 ft height
- Max required setback
- 5 ft
Summary
Retaining walls in required yards may not exceed 6 feet, and when a fill-retaining wall is topped with a fence the wall and fence heights are counted together toward the permitted limit.
4.Retaining Walls.a.Retaining Walls. Retaining walls within required yards shall not exceed six feet in height.b.Retaining Walls Topped with Walls or Fences.i.Where a retaining wall protects a cut below the natural grade and is located on a front, side, or rear lot line, such retaining wall may be topped by a fence or wall of the same height that would otherwise be permitted at the location if no retaining wall existed. Where such retaining wall contains a fill, the height of the retaining wall built to retain the fill shall be considered as contributing to the permissible height of a fence or wall; provided that a non-view-obscuring fence of three and one-half feet may be erected at the top of the retaining wall for safety protection.ii.Where a wall or fence is located in the required yard adjacent to a retaining wall containing a fill, such wall or fence shall be set back from said retaining wall a distance of one foot for each one foot in height, to a maximum distance of five feet.
Full Breakdown
A non-view-obscuring safety fence of up to 3.5 feet may always be placed on top of a fill-retaining wall regardless of total height. For a retaining wall protecting a cut (not a fill), the fence on top is measured separately against the standard fence height for that yard location. Any wall or fence adjacent to a fill retaining wall must be set back one foot for each foot of height, with a maximum required setback of 5 feet.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliant retaining walls or walls-on-retaining-walls are subject to zoning enforcement and potential removal under Chapter 22.242.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a fence on top of my retaining wall?
How high can my retaining wall be in a required yard?
Does a wall near a fill retaining wall need a setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles County
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