San Clemente, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

180 apply in every zone and set stricter limits closest to the street to keep the streetscape open and driveway sightlines clear. In a front yard setback the maximum is 3 feet 6 inches. In an interior side yard, rear yard, or any other area of the lot the limit is 6 feet, rising to 8 feet 6 inches only where the wall faces back onto the same property rather than toward a neighbor. On a corner lot, a wall within 5 feet of the street-side property line is capped at 3 feet 6 inches, with 6 feet allowed for the remaining width of that yard; a reverse corner lot is held to 3 feet 6 inches throughout.

Height is always measured from the lower side's finished grade to the wall's top. An owner may stack a series of shorter stepped walls instead of one tall wall, provided each wall meets the table limit and the horizontal separation between any two walls equals or exceeds the height of the taller one. Guardrails on top of a retaining wall must meet Building Code height rules and, in front yards and other highly visible locations, must be built of mostly open or transparent materials such as glass, metal, or wood pickets, subject to the City Planner's design determination.

An owner who wants to exceed these limits can apply for a Minor Exception Permit allowing up to 6 feet in a front, rear, or near-street-side setback, or up to 8 feet 6 inches elsewhere, but must show the added height will not look unsightly, will not block sightlines to and from driveways, and is necessary because of the site's topography. Nonresidential zone retaining walls skip the table entirely and instead go through architectural review with a Development Permit or Cultural Heritage Permit.