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Fences and walls in Hercules

Hercules limits fences to 3 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft in rear and side yards; taller only in listed cases.

Key points

  • Fence height: Hercules limits fences to 3 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft in rear and side yards; taller only in listed cases.

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

What Hercules's code says

Hercules code What Hercules's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No more than 3 feet above curb grade within 35 feet of the intersection.
    Applies: Fences, walls or hedges that block the view of drivers approaching a street intersection.
    § 13-30.610 · code text
    No fence, wall or hedge which obstructs the visibility of and from vehicles approaching the intersection of a state highway, public road or street with another state highway, public road or street shall be constructed, grown, maintained or permitted higher than 3 feet above the curb grade within 35 feet of the intersection of curb lines or in the case of rounded corners, 35 feet from the point on the curb closest to the center of the intersection.
Front yard height
  • No more than 3 feet high.
    Applies: Required front yards, and a corner lot's street side yard within 20 feet of the front property line.
    § 13-30.610 · code text
    The maximum height for a fence, wall or hedge in a required front yard and along the street side yard of a corner lot within 20 feet of the front property line is 3 feet.
Side and rear yard height
  • No more than 6 feet high.
    Applies: Required rear or side yards.
    § 13-30.610 · code text
    The maximum height for a fence, wall or hedge in a required rear or side yard is 6 feet.
  • No more than 8 feet high.
    Applies: Solid board or similar fences in residential side or rear yards next to a railroad. Design review approval is required.
    § 13-30.610 · code text
    Where residential properties abut a railroad right-of-way, fences of solid board or similar materials may be constructed to a height not to exceed 8 feet in the side or rear yards abutting the railroad right-of-way.
  • No more than 6 feet high.
    Applies: Rear fences on lots facing 2 streets, where the rear yard is next to a street with access blocked by a dedicated reserve strip.
    § 13-30.610 · code text
    The rear fence or wall, not exceeding 6 feet in height, shall be constructed of masonry or similar type construction or a compact evergreen hedge (with solid gates where necessary).
Permit
  • Yes. A permit is required.
    Applies: Hedges, fences, trees, shrubs or similar structures in a watercourse or right-of-way.
    § 7-1.314 · code text
    No hedge, fence, tree, shrub or similar structure shall be planted, erected or maintained in a water course or right of way without a permit.
  • Design review approval is required, and fences over 6 feet are allowed only in listed cases.
    Applies: Fences, walls or hedges taller than 6 feet.
    § 13-30.610 · code text
    A fence wall or hedge greater than 6 feet in height may be allowed in the following conditions subject to first securing design review approval as per Chapter 13-42.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Hercules?

Hercules limits fences to 3 ft in the required front yard and 6 ft in rear and side yards; taller only in listed cases.

General information, not legal advice.

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