Fresno, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Fence-on-wall combined cap
- 7 feet, Director discretion above
- Measured from
- highest side of fence and wall
- Required front-yard materials
- decorative concrete, masonry, stone, brick
- Governing article
- FMC Art. 20, Sec. 15-2006(J), (K)
Summary
Fresno measures a retaining wall's height from the ground on its highest side and caps a fence-on-wall combination at 7 feet unless the Director signs off on a taller stack. Retaining walls visible from the street must be decorative concrete, masonry, stone, or brick, not plain block.
J.Fence and Retaining Wall Combinations. Where a fence is located on top of a retaining wall, and a six-foot maximum fence height is normally applicable, the Director may allow a combined height of fence and retaining wall up to a maximum of seven feet. K.Natural Grade Differences. Where there is a natural grade difference between two adjacent parcels, or a parcel and a street, the Director may allow a deviation of the fence height based on the slope and may measure the overall fence height from the higher parcel. In no case shall the retaining wall and fence combination exceed seven feet from the lower side unless a deviation is granted.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 54).
Full Breakdown
Section 15-2006 of the Citywide Development Code, the same general-site-regulations article that governs all fences and walls, addresses retaining walls directly in two subsections. " Height itself traces back to Section 15-305(B)(1): a fence on top of a retaining wall is measured "from the ground level on the highest side of the fence and wall," which prevents an owner from understating height by measuring only from the low side. On design, front-yard retaining walls under Section 15-2006(D)(2)(d)(ii) must be "designed consistent with the architectural style of the main building" and built only of "decorative concrete, masonry, stone, or brick," with timber allowed only where the Building Code and Public Works standards permit it.
" These are zoning/design standards layered on top of, not a substitute for, California Building Code structural requirements, retaining walls that hold back significant soil loads still need engineered plans and a building permit reviewed by the Development and Resource Management Department before construction.
Violations & Fines
A retaining wall or fence-and-wall combination built above the 7-foot cap without Director approval, or built in plain unfinished block where decorative facing is required, is enforceable by Code Enforcement as a Development Code violation and can be ordered removed or reconstructed to comply; building without the required structural permit exposes the owner to stop-work orders and permit-after-the-fact fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a fence be if it sits on top of a retaining wall in Fresno?
Which side of the wall is used to measure height?
What materials must a visible retaining wall use?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fresno County handle retaining walls.