Lynwood, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Section 25-10-12(B)(10) of the Lynwood Municipal Code sets a 30-inch maximum height for the retaining portion of any wall built in the front yard, and a 48-inch ceiling on the total height of that same front yard wall once the retaining portion is included. Outside the front yard, subsection B2 limits retaining and crib wall height under the same standards as ordinary fences and walls, and excludes any guardrail or open fence required by the building code from that height measurement. Subsection B3 confirms that on slopes graded at less than a 15 percent grade, the ordinary fence and wall heights in subsection B1 still apply, rather than any special slope allowance.

For steeper sites, subsection B4 lets a property owner step or exceed the standard retaining wall height, but only with an approved planning use permit; the stepping must keep a horizontal distance between the downslope and upslope walls or landscaping equal to the vertical height of the downslope wall, and approval turns on whether the wall is landscaped and compatible with the surrounding area. Crib walls with at least a one-half to one slope are exempt from that stepping formula. Any required guardrail stays exempt from the height count and must be an open type approved by the building official.

Like every other new fence or wall, a retaining wall needs a permit from the development services department's planning division under subsection E before construction begins.