Pasadena · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Pasadena

RS and RM-12 districts: front fences at most 4 feet and 50 percent open; interior side and rear setbacks, 6 feet next to residences.

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Key points

Fence heights: RS and RM-12 districts: front fences at most 4 feet and 50 percent open; interior side and rear setbacks, 6 feet next to residences.

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

What Pasadena's code says

Pasadena code What Pasadena's code adds
Corner visibility	No more than 30 inches high. Applies: RS and RM-12 zones: a 45-degree triangle from the street property line to a driveway point 10 feet from that line. § 17.40.180 · code text The maximum height shall be 30 inches within a triangular area extending at an angle of 45 degrees from the street property line to a point on the edge of the driveway 10 feet from the street property line.
Front yard height	No more than 4 feet high, and at least 50% open. Applies: RS and RM-12 zones, between the front property line and the front of the home. § 17.40.180 · code text Between the front property line and the occupancy frontage, the maximum wall or fence height shall be four feet. No more than 6 feet high. Applies: RS and RM-12 zones: flag lots whose front yard touches interior side or rear yards on all sides. § 17.40.180 · code text On flag lots, the maximum front yard wall or fence height may be six feet, provided the front yard of the flag lot is abutting interior side or rear yards on all sides. No more than 4 feet high. Applies: Multifamily projects: walls or fences that are 50% open in a front or corner yard. § 17.40.180 · code text Between the front property line and the occupancy frontage, the height of a wall or fence in a front yard or corner yard shall not exceed four feet if it is 50 percent open and two feet if the wall or fences is solid. No more than 2 feet high. Applies: Multifamily projects: solid walls or fences in a front or corner yard. § 17.40.180 · code text Between the front property line and the occupancy frontage, the height of a wall or fence in a front yard or corner yard shall not exceed four feet if it is 50 percent open and two feet if the wall or fences is solid.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet high. Applies: RS and RM-12 zones: interior side or rear setbacks next to OS or PS zones or homes. § 17.40.180 · code text In interior side or rear setbacks abutting property in a OS or PS zoning district or abutting property with a residential use, the maximum wall or fence height shall be six feet. No more than 8 feet high. Applies: RS and RM-12 zones: interior side or rear setbacks next to commercial or industrial zones with nonresidential use. § 17.40.180 · code text In interior side or rear setbacks abutting property in a commercial or industrial zoning district with a nonresidential use, the maximum wall or fence height shall be eight feet along the property line separating the residential district from the commercial or industrial district. No more than 6 feet high. Applies: RS and RM-12 zones: between the rear building line and rear property line, at least 5 feet from the street property line. § 17.40.180 · code text The maximum height shall be six feet between the rear building line and the rear property line, provided the wall or fence is located a minimum distance of five feet from the street property line. No more than 4 feet high. Applies: RS and RM-12 zones: within 5 feet of a street property line, or between the front of the home and the rear building line. § 17.40.180 · code text The maximum height within five feet of a street property line or between the occupancy frontage and the rear building line shall not exceed four feet. Up to 6 feet high, and may sit at the street property line. Applies: RS and RM-12 corner setbacks behind the front building line, with a commercial or industrial zone across the street. § 17.40.180 · code text Notwithstanding these provisions, the maximum height of a wall or fence in a corner setback shall be six feet and may be located at the street property line, provided the wall or fence is located beyond the front building line of the main structure and a commercial or industrial zoning district is located on the opposite side of the street adjacent to the corner setback. No more than 6 feet high. Applies: RS and RM-12 zones: rear setbacks of double frontage lots, at least 25 feet from the rear street property line. § 17.40.180 · code text On double frontage lots, the Zoning Administrator shall determine the rear setback for the purposes of wall or fence height, and the maximum height of the rear wall or fence shall be six feet; provided, the wall or fence is located a minimum distance of 25 feet measured perpendicular to the rear street property line. No more than 4 feet high. Applies: RS and RM-12 zones: rear setbacks of double frontage lots within 25 feet of a street property line. § 17.40.180 · code text The maximum height of a wall or fence in the rear setback within 25 feet of a street property line shall not exceed four feet. No more than 10 feet high. Applies: Multifamily projects: along the rear property line or rear yard, not in a corner side yard setback. § 17.40.180 · code text The height of a wall or fence along the rear property line or rear yard shall not exceed 10 feet excluding any corner side yard setback. No more than 10 feet high. Applies: Multifamily projects: along side property lines in the rear 50% of the site, not in front or corner side setbacks. § 17.40.180 · code text The height of a wall or fence along the side property lines shall not exceed 10 feet for the rear 50 percent of the site and shall not exceed six feet for the remainder of the site, excluding the front or corner side yard setback. No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Multifamily projects: along side property lines on the rest of the site, not in front or corner side setbacks. § 17.40.180 · code text The height of a wall or fence along the side property lines shall not exceed 10 feet for the rear 50 percent of the site and shall not exceed six feet for the remainder of the site, excluding the front or corner side yard setback.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Pasadena?

RS and RM-12 districts: front fences at most 4 feet and 50 percent open; interior side and rear setbacks, 6 feet next to residences.

General information, not legal advice.

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Pasadena Municipal Code — full text