Hawthorne, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Cut retaining wall
- Fence on top: normal zone height
- Fill retaining wall
- Fence on top capped at 6 ft
- Governing section
- § 17.48.030
- Permit
- Required under § 17.48.010(A)
Summary
Hawthorne treats a retaining wall's fill height separately from any fence stacked on top of it, and it lets a wall topping a cut-slope retaining wall on a shared lot line reach whatever height the zone would otherwise allow.
Where a retaining wall protecting a cut below the natural grade is located on the line separating lots or parcels, such retaining wall may be topped by a fence, wall or hedge of the same height that would otherwise be permitted at the location if no retaining wall existed. Where a retaining wall contains a fill, the height of the retaining wall built to retain the fill shall not be considered as contributing to the permissible height of a wall, fence or hedge. However, such fence above the retaining wall shall not exceed six feet in height.
Full Breakdown
030 (Retaining walls) splits treatment by whether the wall retains a cut or a fill. 020(A), on top of the retaining structure itself. For a fill, the rule flips: "Where a retaining wall contains a fill, the height of the retaining wall built to retain the fill shall not be considered as contributing to the permissible height of a wall, fence or hedge. " That caps any fence above a fill-retaining wall at six feet regardless of the retaining wall's own height, and it applies even in zones where a taller conditional-use fence would otherwise be allowed. 030.
Violations & Fines
Building a retaining wall without the underlying building permit required by Section 17.48.010(A), or stacking a fence above a fill-retaining wall that exceeds the six-foot cap in Section 17.48.030(B), exposes the property owner to a code enforcement order to obtain permits after the fact or reduce the fence height to conform.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a fence be on top of a retaining wall in Hawthorne?
Do retaining walls need a building permit in Hawthorne?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle retaining walls.