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Lake Forest · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Lake Forest

Fences are limited to 3.5 feet in the front yard setback and 6 feet in interior side or rear setbacks.

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Key points

  • Fences: Fences are limited to 3.5 feet in the front yard setback and 6 feet in interior side or rear setbacks.

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

What Lake Forest's code says

Lake Forest code What Lake Forest's code adds
Corner visibility
  • Fences and walls may be no higher than 3.5 feet.
    Applies: Within the triangular area formed by a straight line between two points 15 feet from where two street right-of-way lines meet.
    § 9.144.080.5 · code text
    the maximum height shall be three and one-half feet within the triangular area formed by drawing a straight line between two points located on, and 15 feet distant from, the point of intersection of two ultimate street right-of-way lines extended
Height anywhere on the lot
  • No more than 12 feet tall.
    Applies: Outside a required setback, in the main building area.
    § 9.144.080.5 · code text
    Outside of a required setback (main building area) | 12 feet
Front yard height
  • No more than 3.5 feet tall.
    Applies: Within the front yard setback.
    § 9.144.080.5 · code text
    Within front yard setback | 3.5 feet [1]
  • Can be raised to no more than 6 feet tall.
    Applies: If built outside the required front yard setback or 10 feet back from the front property line, whichever is less.
    § 9.144.080.5 · code text
    Height can be increased above 3.5 feet to a maximum height of 6 feet if constructed outside of the required front yard setback or setback 10 feet from the front property line, whichever is less.
Side and rear yard height
  • No more than 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Within the interior side or rear yard setback.
    § 9.144.080.5 · code text
    Within interior side or rear yard setback | 6 feet [2]
  • No more than 6 feet tall.
    Applies: Within a side or rear setback that borders a street.
    § 9.144.080.5 · code text
    Within side or rear setback bordering streets | 6 feet
  • Never more than 8 feet tall, measured from the lower side.
    Applies: Side or rear setbacks where the neighboring lot is higher than the base of the fence or wall.
    § 9.144.080.5 · code text
    However, in no case shall such a fence or wall exceed 8 feet from the base of the fence/wall to the top when measured from the lower side
Permit
  • A permit is required to remove, change, damage or alter a perimeter wall.
    Applies: Perimeter walls; no permit is needed to return the wall to its approved condition.
    § 9.170.012 · code text
    No person or persons shall remove, change, deface, destroy or otherwise alter a perimeter wall, except to return the perimeter wall to its approved condition, without a permit therefor issued by the Planning Commission or the City Council on appeal.
  • A site development permit is required.
    Applies: Exceptions or changes to the fence and wall height limits.
    § 9.144.080.5 · code text
    Exceptions and modifications to the fence and wall height provisions may be permitted subject to the approval of a site development permit application processed in compliance with the provisions of Section 9.184.010.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Lake Forest?

Fences are limited to 3.5 feet in the front yard setback and 6 feet in interior side or rear setbacks.

General information, not legal advice.

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Lake Forest Municipal Code — full text