West Hollywood · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in West Hollywood

West Hollywood sets its own limits on fences and accessory structures. Fence height depends on the setback and how transparent the fence is, and walls next to commercial uses may be taller.

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Key points

Fence height: West Hollywood limits solid front-setback fences to 42 inches, or 6 feet if at least 50% transparent above that; side and rear, 6 feet.
Accessory structures: West Hollywood limits accessory structures in a required rear setback to 16 feet and one story, and garages or carports to 15 feet.

Each rule below is marked West Hollywood code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

West Hollywood code What West Hollywood's code adds
Height anywhere on the lot	No more than 6 feet. Applies: In residential zones, for fences, walls and hedges outside any required setback. § 19.20.050 · code text Fences, walls, and hedges not within any required setback shall not exceed six feet in height.
Front yard height	No more than 42 inches. Applies: For solid fences and walls in a required front setback, with some exceptions. § 19.20.050 · code text Solid fences and walls within a required front setback shall not exceed a height of 42 inches; except that: Up to 6 feet. Applies: In residential front setbacks, for fences and walls at least 50% see-through, including the part above 42 inches. § 19.20.050 · code text Fences, walls, and combinations of fences and walls that are at least 50 percent transparent not to exceed six feet in height may be allowed in all residential front setbacks. Up to 6 feet, for a solid fence or wall. Applies: Where the front setback faces or borders a secondary highway or a commercial site, if the review authority approves. § 19.20.050 · code text A solid fence or wall or combination of fence and wall up to a maximum height of six feet may be allowed where the front setback of the residential parcel faces or abuts a General Plan-designated secondary highway, or a site zoned for or developed with a commercial use Up to 10 feet, for a solid fence or wall. Applies: Where residential property borders a commercial zone or commercial use, if the review authority approves. § 19.20.050 · code text or up to a maximum height of 10 feet wherever property zoned for residential abuts a commercial zone or a commercial use No height limit. Applies: For hedges and their supports, as long as they do not block driver or pedestrian sightlines. § 19.20.050 · code text Hedges (and any supporting apparatus) are allowed with no restriction on height so long as the hedges do not block sightlines for drivers per Section 19.28.130(D) or pedestrians as determined by the Community Development Director.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 42 inches. Applies: In residential zones, within a required street side setback. A 50% see-through fence may be up to 6 feet. § 19.20.050 · code text Fences, walls, and hedges within a required street side setback shall not exceed 42 inches in height. Up to 6 feet. Applies: For a 50% see-through fence within a required street side setback. § 19.20.050 · code text A 50 percent transparent fence may be al-lowed within the setback area up to six feet in height. No more than 6 feet. Applies: For fences, walls and hedges within a required interior side or rear setback. § 19.20.050 · code text Fences, walls, and hedges within a required interior side or rear setback shall not exceed six feet in height. Up to 10 feet, for a solid decorative wall or fence. Applies: Along a property line bordering a commercial site, including commercial parking. The review authority approves height and materials. § 19.20.050 · code text a solid decorative wall or fence up to 10 feet in height may be constructed along the property line abutting the property with the commercial use.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

West Hollywood code What West Hollywood's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 16 feet and 1 story. Applies: For accessory structures in a required rear setback, other than garages, ADUs or JADUs. § 19.36.300 · code text Accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 16 feet and one story. No more than 15 feet. Applies: For a garage or carport. § 19.36.300 · code text The maximum height of a garage or carport shall not exceed 15 feet.
Size or lot coverage	May cover no more than 50% of the required rear setback. Applies: For roofed accessory structures. The Director may allow more if equal open area is provided elsewhere on the site. § 19.36.300 · code text Roofed accessory structures shall not occupy more than 50 percent of the required rear setback, provided that the Community Development Director may approve additional coverage where a replacement open area equivalent to the additional coverage over 50 percent is substituted elsewhere on the site, provided that:
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from any property line. Applies: For accessory structures other than garages, in the rear setback, on parcels 50 feet wide or more. § 19.36.300 · code text An accessory structure on a parcel that is 50 feet or more in width shall not be placed closer than five feet to any property line. At least 3 feet from the property line. Applies: Single-family or duplex parcels under 50 feet wide or 100 feet deep, where the structure would abut a neighbor's building. § 19.36.300 · code text In these cases, the accessory structure shall be located a minimum of three feet from the property line. May be built up to the property line. Applies: Single-family or duplex parcels under 50 feet wide or 100 feet deep, unless it would abut a neighbor's building. § 19.36.300 · code text An accessory structure may be located up to the property line on a parcel less than 50 feet in width or 100 feet in depth that is developed with a single-family dwelling or duplex, except where the accessory structure would abut another building on an adjacent parcel. At least 75 feet back from the front property line. Applies: For a garage or carport within a required side or rear setback. § 19.36.300 · code text The structure is at least 75 feet back from the front property line, except that a carport attached to a single-family dwelling may be located not less than 25 feet from the front property line; At least 25 feet from the front property line. Applies: For a carport attached to a single-family home, within a required side or rear setback. § 19.36.300 · code text The structure is at least 75 feet back from the front property line, except that a carport attached to a single-family dwelling may be located not less than 25 feet from the front property line; At least 26 feet from the far edge of the alley right-of-way. Applies: For a garage or carport in a required side or rear setback, when an alley gives vehicle access. § 19.36.300 · code text Where an alley provides vehicle access, the structure shall be located a minimum of 26 feet from the opposite right-of-way line of the alley;

Solar panels and EV chargers

West Hollywood code What West Hollywood's code adds
EV charger permit	Landlords must approve a tenant's written charger request for their parking space if the tenant meets terms and pays costs. Applies: Applies to rental units, except properties exempt from that title of the code. § 17.58.020 · code text A landlord of a rental unit shall approve a written request of a tenant to install an electric vehicle charging station at a parking space allotted for the tenant that meets the requirements of this chapter and complies with the landlord's procedural approval process for modification to the property.

Other West Hollywood rules on this

West Hollywood's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Keeping chickens and pygmy goats at home (Ch. 9.54)
SB 9 two-unit projects (§ 19.36.325)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in West Hollywood?

West Hollywood limits solid front-setback fences to 42 inches, or 6 feet if at least 50% transparent above that; side and rear, 6 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in West Hollywood?

West Hollywood limits accessory structures in a required rear setback to 16 feet and one story, and garages or carports to 15 feet.

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in West Hollywood?

West Hollywood's code: Landlords must approve a tenant's written charger request for their parking space if the tenant meets terms and pays costs. (Applies to rental units, except properties exempt from that title of the code.) (§ 17.58.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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