Riverside County, CA Permit Requirements: Fence Permits (2026)

Under the California Building Code as adopted by Riverside County, fences not over 7 feet in height do not require a building permit. This applies to wood, vinyl, chain-link, wrought iron, and masonry block wall fences. However, the Riverside County Planning Division may require review for fences located in front yard setback areas to ensure compliance with zoning ordinance setback and visibility requirements. Fences over 7 feet in height require a building permit and must be engineered to meet structural requirements. Retaining walls over 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) also require a building permit and engineering calculations. Combined fence-and-retaining-wall structures where the total height exceeds certain thresholds may require a permit even if neither element independently exceeds the permit threshold. In the Coachella Valley and other desert communities, masonry block walls are standard due to wind loading requirements. The County may require block walls to meet specific wind speed design criteria. Pool fences must comply with California Building Code §3109 requirements regardless of height. Property owners should verify the property line location before building a fence — a licensed surveyor is recommended to avoid encroachment disputes.