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Brentwood · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Brentwood

Brentwood limits fences to 42 inches in any required front yard and 7 feet on side or rear property lines outside the front yard.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Brentwood limits fences to 42 inches in any required front yard and 7 feet on side or rear property lines outside the front yard.

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

What Brentwood's code says

Brentwood code What Brentwood's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No more than 42 inches.
    Applies: Corner lots, in the triangle formed by the curb lines and a line joining points 50 feet from their intersection.
    § 17.660.008 · code text
    On a corner lot, the fence or wall height shall not exceed forty-two inches within a triangle formed by the street frontage curb lines extended to their intersection and a line connecting such lot line measured fifty feet from their point of intersection.
Height anywhere on the lot
  • No more than 4 feet.
    Applies: Retaining walls.
    § 17.660.008 · code text
    Retaining walls shall not exceed a height of four feet.
Front yard height
  • No more than 42 inches.
    Applies: Fences in any required front yard.
    § 17.660.008 · code text
    Within any required front yard fences shall not exceed a height of forty-two inches.
Side and rear yard height
  • Up to 7 feet.
    Applies: Residential zones, on side or rear property lines, outside the required front yard.
    § 17.660.008 · code text
    Within residential zones, fences outside of the required front yard may be a maximum of seven feet in height when located on side or rear property lines.
Permit
  • Yes. A building permit is needed for retaining walls over 4 feet or holding up a steep slope (surcharge).
    Applies: Retaining walls; height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall.
    § 17.660.008 · code text
    A building permit is required for retaining walls that are over four feet high (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall), and/or retaining walls supporting a steeply sloped surface called a surcharge.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Brentwood?

Brentwood limits fences to 42 inches in any required front yard and 7 feet on side or rear property lines outside the front yard.

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Brentwood's fences and walls rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Brentwood Municipal Code — full text