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Fences and walls in Menlo Park

Menlo Park limits residential fences to 4 ft in the required front setback, 7 ft outside it, and 3 ft in corner sight triangles.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Menlo Park limits residential fences to 4 ft in the required front setback, 7 ft outside it, and 3 ft in corner sight triangles.

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

What Menlo Park's code says

Menlo Park code What Menlo Park's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No higher than 3 feet in the corner triangle.
    Applies: Corner lots in residential districts; triangle of the street right-of-way lines and a line joining points 35 feet from their intersection.
    § 16.64.020 · code text
    The maximum height of fences, walls, hedges, or similar structures on corner lots shall not exceed three feet (3') within the triangular area bounded on two (2) sides by the right-of-way lines of the intersecting streets and the third side by a line joining points on the right-of-way lines at a distance of thirty-five feet (35') from their point of intersection.
Height anywhere on the lot
  • No higher than 7 feet.
    Applies: Residential districts, outside the required front setback.
    § 16.64.020 · code text
    Otherwise the fence, wall, hedge or similar structure shall not exceed seven feet (7') in height.
Front yard height
  • No higher than 4 feet.
    Applies: Required front setback in residential districts.
    § 16.64.020 · code text
    The maximum height of fences, walls, hedges or similar structures shall not exceed four feet (4') in the required front setback.
Permit
  • A use permit is required for taller fences, walls or hedges.
    Applies: Residential districts, for heights over the front setback and general limits; not for properties fronting Santa Cruz Avenue.
    § 16.64.020 · code text
    With the exception of residential properties fronting Santa Cruz Avenue, the height of fences, walls, hedges or similar structures in excess of the limitations stated in subsections (a) and (b) of this section may be allowed upon obtaining a use permit in accordance with the procedures and standards of Chapter 16.82.
  • A written application and city approval; the city may approve with conditions, deny, or send it to use permit review.
    Applies: Residential properties fronting Santa Cruz Avenue that want to exceed the height limits.
    § 16.64.030 · code text
    Heights for fences, walls, hedges or similar structures as stated in Section 16.64.020(a) and (b) may be exceeded for residential properties fronting on Santa Cruz Avenue in accordance with the following procedures:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Menlo Park?

Menlo Park limits residential fences to 4 ft in the required front setback, 7 ft outside it, and 3 ft in corner sight triangles.

General information, not legal advice.

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Menlo Park Municipal Code — full text