Los Altos Hills · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Los Altos Hills

Fences and walls on property lines or in setbacks not next to a road are limited to 6 feet.

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Key points

Fence height: Fences and walls on property lines or in setbacks not next to a road are limited to 6 feet.

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

What Los Altos Hills's code says

Los Altos Hills code What Los Altos Hills's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences and walls can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: On property lines or in setback areas that are not next to a road right-of-way. § 10-1.507 · code text Fences and walls located on property lines or in setback areas that are not adjacent to a road right-of-way shall not exceed a maximum height of six feet.
Front yard height	Open fences and gates can be at most 4.5 feet tall. Applies: In setback areas next to a road, at the minimum setback of 30 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Maximum height of open fences and gates at the minimum setback from the centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way: four and one-half (4.5) feet. Open fences and gates can be 6 feet tall. Applies: Between the road and the structural setback line, only if at least 45 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Minimum setback from centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way for six feet tall open fences and gates located between adjacent public or private roadways and the structural setback line for the particular property: 45 feet. Solid fences, gates and walls can be at most 3 feet tall. Applies: In setback areas next to a road, at the minimum setback of 30 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Maximum height of solid fences, gates, and walls at the minimum setback from the centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way: three feet. Solid fences, gates and walls can be 6 feet tall. Applies: Between the road and the structural setback line, only if at least 60 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Minimum setback from centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way for six foot tall solid fences, gates, and walls located between adjacent public or private roadways and the structural setback line for the particular property: 60 feet. Open driveway gates can be at most 4.5 feet tall on average. Applies: At the minimum setback of 30 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Maximum height of open driveway gates at the minimum setback from the centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way: four and one-half (4.5) feet (average). Open driveway gates can average 6 feet tall, with a 7-foot maximum. Applies: Between the road and the structural setback line, only if at least 45 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Minimum setback from centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way for open driveway gates with a six feet average height (seven feet maximum height) located between adjacent public or private roadways and the structural setback line for the particular property: 45 feet. Columns can be at most 6 feet tall, or 7 feet with lights. Applies: At the minimum setback of 30 feet from the road centerline. § 10-1.507 · code text Maximum height of columns at the minimum setback from the centerline of adjacent public or private road right-of-way: six feet; seven feet (with lights).
Permit	Yes. A Zoning or Site Development Permit is needed before building or replacing any fence, wall, gate or column. § 10-1.507 · code text No fence, wall, gate, or column structure shall be erected or replaced without the prior issuance of a Zoning or Site Development Permit from the Town.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Los Altos Hills?

Fences and walls on property lines or in setbacks not next to a road are limited to 6 feet.

General information, not legal advice.

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Los Altos Hills Municipal Code — full text