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Chapter 18.32 — WALLS AND FENCES

Palos Verdes Estates Municipal Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-09-27 · Palos Verdes Estates

§ 18.32.010. R-1 and R-M walls, fences and accessory structures.

  • A. Maximum Height. No fence, wall or accessory structure in the R-1 or R-M zone shall exceed the following heights:

    1. Any fence, wall or accessory structure in the minimum required setback adjacent to a public street shall not exceed three feet, six inches in height. However, if a fence, wall, or accessory structure is located on a downhill slope from the street it shall not exceed three feet, six inches in height on the side facing the street and not exceed six feet, six inches in height on the downhill side of a slope. Setbacks from an alley adjacent to the rear or side of a lot are not included in this requirement.

    2. All other fences, walls or accessory structures shall not exceed six feet, six inches in height.

  • B. Special Permits. Except where a wall, fence or accessory structure has been approved in the course of other required approvals under this code, a special permit may be issued for a wall, fence or accessory structure to exceed the standards set forth in subsection A of this section only as follows:

    1. By the director, if he/she finds the wall, fence or accessory structure proposed shall not adversely affect any other property, for any wall, fence or accessory structure which is more than six feet, six inches but no more than eight feet in height and is not located within the minimum required setback adjacent to a public street.

Each decision of the director to approve a special permit shall be reported to the city council and the planning commission according to procedures established by the director. Notice of the decision shall be mailed to the applicant and all owners of real property abutting, across the street or alley from, or having a common corner with the subject property.

An interested party may appeal a decision of the director under this section to the planning commission by filing a written appeal with the director within fifteen days after such decision and paying the established appeal fee. The planning commission shall approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the application in accordance with applicable criteria and requirements specified by law. The planning commission determination shall be final unless appealed to city council.

  1. By the planning commission, if it finds the wall, fence or accessory structure proposed shall not adversely affect any other property, for:

    • a. Any wall, fence or accessory structure not located in a minimum required setback adjacent to a public street which exceeds eight feet in height,

    • b. Any wall, fence or accessory structure located in a minimum required setback adjacent to a public street which exceeds three feet, six inches in height.

  • C. Height shall be, for all purposes of this chapter, measured from the adjacent natural or existing elevation, whichever is lower.

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City of Palos Verdes Estates, CA

ZONING REGULATIONS

§ 18.32.010

§ 18.32.020

  • D. “Nonhabitable accessory structure” means a structure that is not a single-family residence and is not used for habitable purposes, including, by way of example and not by way of limitation, an outdoor fireplace, trellis, pergola, gazebo, storage shed, or detached garage.

  • E. “Habitable accessory structure” means a structure that is not a single-family residence and is used for habitable purposes, including, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a guest house, pool house, play room, or cabana. Habitable accessory structures shall not have a kitchen and must have four walls and a roof.

  • F. In no event shall the setback of any habitable accessory structures be less than the setback requirements established for the main residential building.

  • G. Habitable accessory structures shall not exceed seven hundred square feet or ten percent of the lot size, whichever is less.

  • H. A conditional use permit shall be required for habitable accessory structures exceeding the standards set forth in subsection G of this section; provided, however, that in no case shall the accessory structure exceed the size of the main residential building.

  • I. Any accessory structure shall be silhouetted at the discretion of the planning director and/ or planning commission.

  • (Ord. 312 § 1, 1975; Ord. 556 § 1, 1992; Ord. 689 § 1, 2009; Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 714 §§ 8 – 10, 2015)

§ 18.32.020. Placement of containers.

Refuse containers should be kept in an area readily accessible to the refuse collector at ground level immediately adjacent to a driveway, or immediately adjacent to the side of a garage or the front ten feet thereof, or at other such fire-safe location as the planning commission may approve. (Ord. 700 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012)

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City of Palos Verdes Estates, CA § 18.36.010

ZONING REGULATIONS

§ 18.36.020

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▸Contents — Palos Verdes Estates Municipal Code
Palos Verdes Estates Municipal Code
  1. Title 1
  2. Title 2
  3. Chapter 2.12 — POLICE DEPARTMENT
  4. Chapter 2.08 — CITY MANAGER
  5. Chapter 2.10 — FINANCE DIRECTOR
  6. Chapter 2.12 — POLICE DEPARTMENT
  7. Chapter 2.16 — POLICE DEPARTMENT RESERVE CORPS
  8. Chapter 2.24 — COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
  9. Chapter 2.28 — EMERGENCY SERVICES
  10. Chapter 2.32 — UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
  11. Chapter 2.36 — PERSONNEL AND EMPLOYMENT
  12. Chapter 2.38 — POST-EMPLOYMENT LOBBYING
  13. Title 3
  14. Chapter 3.00 — SPECIAL REAL PROPERTY TAX
  15. Chapter 3.04 — ASSESSMENT AND TAX COLLECTION
  16. Chapter 3.08 — SALES AND USE TAX
  17. Chapter 3.24 — PURCHASING SYSTEM
  18. Chapter 3.28 — TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT FUND
  19. Chapter 3.32 — CHARGE FOR SPECIAL POLICE SERVICES
  20. Chapter 3.36 — LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES SPECIAL TAX
  21. Title 5
  22. Chapter 5.04 — FORTUNETELLING AND RELATED PRACTICES
  23. Chapter 5.08 — PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS
  24. Chapter 5.16 — BUSINESS LICENSE TAX
  25. Chapter 5.20 — COMMERCIAL FILM PERMIT
  26. Chapter 5.25 — REAL PROPERTY RECORDS REPORT
  27. Title 6
  28. Chapter 6.04 — ANIMAL CONTROL GENERALLY
  29. Chapter 6.08 — REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO DOGS
  30. Chapter 6.12 — POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VICIOUS DOGS
  31. Chapter 6.16 — VACCINATION
  32. Title 8
  33. Chapter 8.32
  34. Chapter 8.04 — HEALTH CODE
  35. Chapter 8.14
  36. Chapter 8.16 — GARBAGE AND RUBBISH
  37. Chapter 8.18 — SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
  38. Chapter 8.24 — HANG GLIDERS AND MODEL AIRCRAFT
  39. Chapter 8.32 — OUTDOOR BUSINESS LIGHTING
  40. Chapter 8.36 — SUBSTANDARD PREMISES
  41. Chapter 8.40
  42. Chapter 8.44 — WELLS AND MINES
  43. Chapter 8.52 — MOBILE SOURCE AIR POLLUTION REDUCTION
  44. Chapter 8.56 — SMOKING PROHIBITED
  45. Chapter 8.60 — FIREWORKS
  46. Title 9
  47. Chapter 9.04 — OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC DECENCY
  48. Chapter 9.05 — PICKETING
  49. Chapter 9.08 — CURFEW
  50. Chapter 9.12 — WEAPONS
  51. Chapter 9.16 — USE OF BEACHES
  52. Chapter 9.18 — SOCIAL HOST LIABILITY FOR PARTIES AT WHICH UNDE…
  53. Chapter 9.20
  54. Title 10
  55. Chapter 10.02 — PENALTIES
  56. Chapter 10.08 — TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION
  57. Chapter 10.12
  58. Chapter 10.16 — TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES
  59. Chapter 10.20 — ONE-WAY STREETS AND ALLEYS
  60. Chapter 10.24 — SPECIAL STOPS
  61. Chapter 10.28 — MISCELLANEOUS DRIVING RULES
  62. Chapter 10.32
  63. Chapter 10.36 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING – VENDING
  64. Chapter 10.40
  65. Chapter 10.44 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING – TIMES
  66. Chapter 10.48 — STOPPING FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING ONLY
  67. Chapter 10.52
  68. Chapter 10.60 — CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
  69. Title 12
  70. Chapter 12.04 — ENCROACHMENTS
  71. Chapter 12.12 — EXCAVATIONS
  72. Chapter 12.16 — STREET TREES
  73. Chapter 12.20 — STREET AND SIDEWALK USE RESTRICTIONS
  74. Chapter 12.24 — PARKS
  75. Chapter 12.32
  76. Title 13
  77. Chapter 13.08 — STORM DRAINS AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND POL…
  78. Chapter 13.12 — UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICTS
  79. Chapter 13.14 — SANITARY SEWERS AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE
  80. Title 15
  81. Chapter 15.04
  82. Chapter 15.08 — ADMINISTRATION
  83. Chapter 15.12
  84. Chapter 15.20
  85. Chapter 15.50 — FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
  86. Title 16
  87. Chapter 16.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  88. Chapter 16.16 — DESIGN STANDARDS
  89. Chapter 16.16 — DESIGN STANDARDS
  90. Title 17
  91. Chapter 17.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  92. Chapter 17.10 — ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
  93. Chapter 17.20 — CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
  94. Chapter 17.22 — SITE PLAN PERMITS
  95. Chapter 17.36 — STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
  96. Chapter 17.40
  97. Chapter 17.44 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
  98. Title 18
  99. Chapter 18.55 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
  100. Chapter 18.32 — WALLS AND FENCES
  101. Chapter 18.36 — NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY
  102. Chapter 18.37
  103. Chapter 18.39
  104. Chapter 18.40 — MIXED-USE OVERLAY (MU-O) ZONE
  105. Chapter 18.42 — HOME OCCUPATION
  106. Chapter 18.45 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
  107. Chapter 18.50 — WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING
  108. Chapter 18.60 — NONCOMMERCIAL ANTENNAS
  109. Chapter 18.64 — MOBILEHOME PARKS
  110. Chapter 18.72 — SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
  111. Chapter 18.73 — REGULATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA
  112. Title 19
  113. Chapter 19.01 — DEFINITIONS
  114. Chapter 19.02
  115. Title OL

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