La Habra, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Section 18.12.080 requires anyone developing or improving land adjoining property zoned for a higher use, or building on land next to such property, to construct a solid masonry wall along the shared line. In a multi-unit zone, the wall between off-street parking areas and adjoining single-unit property must be 6 feet high, dropping to 3 feet for the depth of the required front yard on the abutting residential property; the same 6-foot to 3-foot rule applies between commercial or manufacturing zoned property and adjoining residentially zoned property.

Where the two properties sit at different grade levels, subsection C fixes how the wall's height is measured: if the heavier-use property is on the lower grade, height is measured from its finished grade, and the wall must still extend a few feet above the higher property's finished grade; if the heavier-use property sits on the higher grade, height is measured from that higher finished grade, but the wall cannot exceed an overall 10 feet as measured from the lower property's grade. Where a straight wall would need to exceed 10 feet because of the grade difference, the code requires at least two walls forming a terrace or approved slope instead of one tall wall. These requirements apply only to property developed after the section's September 2, 1960 effective date.