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Millbrae · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Millbrae

Millbrae limits fences to 2.5 ft in required front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards not on a street or alley.

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Key points

  • Fence height: Millbrae limits fences to 2.5 ft in required front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards not on a street or alley.

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

What Millbrae's code says

Millbrae code What Millbrae's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No higher than 2.5 feet.
    Applies: Within the corner setback area.
    § 10.05.2010 · code text
    Within the corner setback area (d) | 2.5'
  • No higher than 2.5 feet.
    Applies: In the exterior yard on the rear 30 feet of a corner lot next to a side-fronting lot.
    § 10.05.2010 · code text
    Within exterior yard on the rear 30 feet of a corner lot which abuts a side fronting lot (e) | 2.5' (c)
Height anywhere on the lot
  • No higher than 8 feet.
    Applies: Fences outside required yards that do not face a street or alley.
    § 10.05.2010 · code text
    – All others | 8.0' (c)
  • No higher than 6 feet.
    Applies: Fences outside required yards that face a street or alley.
    § 10.05.2010 · code text
    – Facing any street or alley | 6.0' (c)
Front yard height
  • No higher than 2.5 feet.
    Applies: Within required front yards.
    § 10.05.2010 · code text
    Within required front yards (a) | 2.5' (c)
Side and rear yard height
  • No higher than 2.5 feet.
    Applies: Within required side and rear yards next to a street or alley.
    § 10.05.2010 · code text
    Within required side and rear yards abutting a street or alley (a) | 2.5' (c)
  • No higher than 6 feet.
    Applies: Within required side and rear yards not next to a street or alley.
    § 10.05.2010 · code text
    Within required side and rear yard not abutting a street or alley | 6.0' (c)
Permit
  • Yes. An encroachment permit is required.
    Applies: Any fence over, or within 3 feet of, a utility or public utility easement.
    § 10.05.2010 · code text
    Any fence over, or within three feet of, any utility or public utility easement unless an encroachment permit is first obtained.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Millbrae?

Millbrae limits fences to 2.5 ft in required front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards not on a street or alley.

General information, not legal advice.

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

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Millbrae Municipal Code — full text