Orange · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Orange

On standard residential lots, front-yard fences: at most 3 1/2 feet; side and rear, 6 feet from higher ground, 10 from lower.

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Key points

Fence heights: On standard residential lots, front-yard fences: at most 3 1/2 feet; side and rear, 6 feet from higher ground, 10 from lower.

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

What Orange's code says

Orange code What Orange's code adds
Front yard height	Fences can be at most 3.5 feet tall. Applies: Required front yard of a standard residential lot. § 17.12.070 · code text In the required front yard area, the height shall be limited to three and one-half feet.
Side and rear yard height	Fences can be at most 6 feet tall, measured from the higher ground next to the fence. Applies: Side and rear yards of standard residential lots. § 17.12.070 · code text Six feet, as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the fence, and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the fence. Fences can be at most 10 feet tall, measured from the lower ground next to the fence. Applies: Side and rear yards of standard residential lots. § 17.12.070 · code text Six feet, as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the fence, and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the fence. Sound walls can be up to 8 feet tall, measured from the higher ground next to the wall. Applies: Properties within 300 feet of freeways or railroads and within build-out noise contours. § 17.12.070 · code text sound wall height may be up to eight feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the wall and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the wall. Sound walls can be up to 10 feet tall, measured from the lower ground next to the wall. Applies: Properties within 300 feet of freeways or railroads and within build-out noise contours. § 17.12.070 · code text sound wall height may be up to eight feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the wall and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the wall. Fences or walls can be up to 8 feet tall, measured from the higher ground next to them. Applies: Properties next to a nonresidential zoning district. § 17.12.070 · code text For properties abutting a nonresidential zoning district the height may be up to eight feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the fence or wall, and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the fence or wall. Fences or walls can be up to 10 feet tall, measured from the lower ground next to them. Applies: Properties next to a nonresidential zoning district. § 17.12.070 · code text For properties abutting a nonresidential zoning district the height may be up to eight feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the fence or wall, and 10 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the fence or wall. Sound walls can be up to 10 feet tall, measured from the higher ground next to the wall. Applies: Mobile home properties within 300 feet of freeways or railroads and within build-out noise contours. § 17.12.070 · code text sound wall height may be up to 10 feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the wall and 12 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the wall. Sound walls can be up to 12 feet tall, measured from the lower ground next to the wall. Applies: Mobile home properties within 300 feet of freeways or railroads and within build-out noise contours. § 17.12.070 · code text sound wall height may be up to 10 feet as measured from the highest elevation of land contiguous to the wall and 12 feet as measured from the lowest elevation contiguous to the wall.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Orange?

On standard residential lots, front-yard fences: at most 3 1/2 feet; side and rear, 6 feet from higher ground, 10 from lower.

General information, not legal advice.

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Orange Municipal Code — full text