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Beverly Hills · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills fence limits differ by area of the city; a permit is needed for any front-yard fence and any fence over 6 feet.

Key points

  • Fences: Beverly Hills fence limits differ by area of the city; a permit is needed for any front-yard fence and any fence over 6 feet.

Each rule below links to the section of the Beverly Hills Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Beverly Hills's code says

Beverly Hills code What Beverly Hills's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot
  • No higher than 36 inches above the finished grade of the uphill neighbor's level pad.
    Applies: New fence on a downhill lot's slope, in the uphill lot's view of the Los Angeles basin; open to public view; rules vary by area.
    § 10-3-2616 · code text
    New fences on a slope of a downslope property shall not in any event extend above a point thirty six inches (36") above the finished grade of the level pad on the adjacent upslope property
Front yard height
  • At most 3 feet.
    Applies: Wall, fence or hedge in the first 20% of the front yard, measured from the front lot line. Limits differ by area of the city.
    § 10-3-2616 · code text
    The maximum allowable height of a wall, fence, or hedge located within the first twenty percent (20%) of the front yard, measured from the front lot line shall be three feet (3').
  • At most 6 feet.
    Applies: Front yard, beyond the first 20% of the front setback; any part over 3 feet open to public view. Limits differ by city area.
    § 10-3-2616 · code text
    The maximum allowable height of a wall, fence, or hedge located within the front yard at a distance from the front lot line of more than twenty percent (20%) of the front setback shall be six feet (6');
  • No more than 3 feet.
    Applies: Hillside areas: over 3 and up to 10 feet from a front or street side lot line; none allowed within 3 feet.
    § 10-3-2516 · code text
    Walls or fences located more than three feet (3') from a front lot line or street side lot line, but less than or equal to ten feet (10') from a front lot line or street side lot line shall be no more than three feet (3') in height.
  • No more than 6 feet.
    Applies: Hillside areas: more than 10 feet from a front or street side lot line, inside that yard; any part over 3 feet open to view.
    § 10-3-2516 · code text
    Walls or fences located more than ten feet (10') from a front lot line or street side lot line, but within a front yard or street side yard, shall be no more than six feet (6') in height.
  • No more than 6 feet.
    Applies: Hillside areas: a wall allowed by a Hillside R-1 permit to extend into a front or street side yard.
    § 10-3-2516 · code text
    a reviewing authority may issue a Hillside R-1 permit to permit a wall of no more than six feet (6') in height to encroach into a front yard or street side yard
  • Up to 6 feet.
    Applies: Hillside areas: only with a minor accommodation permit, 3 to 10 feet from a front or street side lot line, open to public view.
    § 10-3-2516 · code text
    allow a wall or fence of up to six feet (6') in height to be located between three feet (3') and ten feet (10') from a front lot line or street side lot line
Side and rear yard height
  • At most 6 feet.
    Applies: Part in both a side yard and a front yard; any part over 3 feet open to public view. Limits differ by city area.
    § 10-3-2616 · code text
    The maximum allowable height for that portion of a wall, fence, or hedge located in both a side yard and a front yard shall be six feet (6');
  • At most 7 feet.
    Applies: In a side yard but not in a front yard. Limits differ by area of the city.
    § 10-3-2616 · code text
    The maximum allowable height for that portion of a wall, fence, or hedge located in a side yard, but not in a front yard, shall be seven feet (7'),
  • At most 8 feet.
    Applies: In a side yard, not a front yard, within 5 feet of and parallel to a rear lot line. Limits differ by city area.
    § 10-3-2616 · code text
    except that the maximum allowable height shall be eight feet (8') for such a wall, fence, or hedge located within five feet (5') of a rear lot line and parallel to such rear lot line.
  • At most 8 feet.
    Applies: Fence, wall or hedge in a rear yard. Limits differ by area of the city.
    § 10-3-2616 · code text
    The maximum allowable height for a fence, wall or hedge located in a rear yard shall be eight feet (8').
  • At most 7 feet.
    Applies: Hillside areas: the part of a wall, fence or hedge outside all front and street side yards.
    § 10-3-2516 · code text
    The maximum allowable height for that portion of a wall, fence, or hedge located outside of all front and street side yards shall be seven feet (7'), as measured per the definition of "height of wall, fence, or hedge" located in section 10-3-100 of this chapter.
  • Never more than 12 feet, measured on the side farther from the property line.
    Applies: Hillside areas: outside all front and street side yards.
    § 10-3-2516 · code text
    Further, under no circumstance shall the height of the wall, fence, or hedge, measured on the side farther from a property line exceed twelve feet (12').
  • At most 10 feet.
    Applies: In a side yard but not a front yard, within 5 feet of a rear lot line. Limits differ by area of the city.
    § 10-3-2420 · code text
    except that the maximum allowable height shall be ten feet (10') for such a wall, fence, or hedge located within five feet (5') of a rear lot line.
  • At most 10 feet.
    Applies: Wall or fence in a side yard next to an alley, except the part also in the front yard. Limits differ by city area.
    § 10-3-2420 · code text
    The maximum allowable height for a wall or fence located in a side yard adjacent to an alley shall be ten feet (10'),
  • At most 16 feet.
    Applies: Hedge in a side yard next to an alley, except the part also in the front yard. Limits differ by city area.
    § 10-3-2420 · code text
    The maximum allowable height for a hedge located in a side yard that is adjacent to an alley shall be sixteen feet (16'),
  • At most 10 feet.
    Applies: Wall or fence located only in a rear yard. Limits differ by area of the city.
    § 10-3-2420 · code text
    The maximum allowable height for a wall or fence located solely in a rear yard shall be ten feet (10').
  • At most 16 feet.
    Applies: Hedge located only in a rear yard. Limits differ by area of the city.
    § 10-3-2420 · code text
    The maximum allowable height for a hedge located solely in a rear yard shall be sixteen feet (16').
  • At most 10 feet.
    Applies: Wall or fence in a side yard, not a front yard, within 5 feet of a rear lot line. Limits differ by city area.
    § 10-3-2814 · code text
    the maximum allowable height shall be ten feet (10') for such a wall or fence located within five feet (5') of a rear lot line.
  • At most 16 feet.
    Applies: Hedge in a side yard, not a front yard, within 5 feet of a rear lot line. Limits differ by area of the city.
    § 10-3-2814 · code text
    The maximum allowable height shall be sixteen feet (16') for such a hedge located within five feet (5') of a rear lot line.
Permit
  • Yes. A building permit is needed for any wall or fence over 6 feet, and any in a front yard.
    § 10-3-2616 · code text
    a building permit shall be required for any wall or fence greater than six feet (6') in height and shall also be required for any wall or fence, regardless of its height, that is located in a front yard.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Beverly Hills?

Beverly Hills fence limits differ by area of the city; a permit is needed for any front-yard fence and any fence over 6 feet.

General information, not legal advice.

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