Fences and walls in Dana Point: the local rules

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

What Dana Point's code says

Dana Point code What Dana Point's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 42 inches high. Applies: Fences, walls and hedges in the required front yard. Pilaster and wrought iron fences may go higher under set rules. § 9.05.120 · code text Fences, walls and hedges shall not exceed 42 inches in height except as provided in Subsection (b)(2) below. No more than 36 inches high. Applies: Pilasters in the required front yard. § 9.05.120 · code text Pilasters may not exceed 18 inches in width and may not exceed 36 inches in height. Pilasters must be spaced at a minimum of eight feet on center. No more than 48 inches high, measured from finished grade. Applies: Wrought iron inserts in the required front yard. § 9.05.120 · code text Wrought iron inserts may be designed to a maximum height of 48 inches as measured from finished grade. No more than 30 inches high. Applies: Retaining walls in the required front yard. § 9.05.120 · code text The maximum height of retaining walls in the required front yard shall be 30 inches. No more than 42 inches high in total. Applies: Total wall height, including any retaining wall, in the required front yard. § 9.05.120 · code text The total wall height, including the retaining wall shall not exceed 42 inches.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet high, measured from finished grade. Applies: Fences, walls or hedges in the required side and rear yard that face a neighboring property. § 9.05.120 · code text The maximum height of any fence, wall or hedge within the required side and rear yard which faces an adjacent property shall be six feet as measured from the finished grade at the base of the fence, wall or hedge to the top of the fence, wall or hedge. No more than 8 feet high, measured from finished grade. Applies: Fences, walls or hedges in the required side or rear yard that face the owner's own property. § 9.05.120 · code text The maximum height of any fence, wall or hedge within the required side or rear yard which faces the subject property shall be eight feet as measured from the finished grade at the base of the fence, wall or hedge to the top of the fence, wall or hedge.
Permit	A Minor Site Development Permit is needed for alternatives to the height limits and for retaining walls over 30 inches. Applies: Not needed for a retaining wall on an approved grading plan, or one under 72 inches, not visible from a public right-of-way, with no fill. § 9.05.120 · code text Retaining walls that are greater than 30 inches from the top of the wall to finished grade may be permitted subject to the approval of a Minor Site Development Permit, as described in Chapter 9.71.

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Dana Point?

Dana Point limits fences to 42 inches in a required front yard, and side and rear yard fences to 6 feet facing a neighbor.

Fences and walls in Dana Point

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What Dana Point's code says

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