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Pacific Grove · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Pacific Grove

Fences are limited to 4 feet forward of the front yard setback line and 6 feet on or behind it along property lines. Corner lots with straight property lines: fences limited to 3 feet within a triangle with 20-foot sides from the corner nearest the intersection.

Key points

  • Fence heights: Fences are limited to 4 feet forward of the front yard setback line and 6 feet on or behind it along property lines.
  • Corner lots: Corner lots with straight property lines: fences limited to 3 feet within a triangle with 20-foot sides from the corner nearest the intersection.

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

What Pacific Grove's code says

Pacific Grove code What Pacific Grove's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No more than 3 feet in a triangle with 2 sides of 20 feet from the corner nearest the intersection.
    Applies: For corner lots whose corner property lines are 2 straight lines.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    The height limit for a fence, hedge, screening or other visual obstruction for a corner lot whose intersecting corner property lines are two straight lines shall not exceed three feet in height within an area represented by a triangle whose apex is the property corner nearest the intersection and whose other two vertices are points located 20 feet away from the apex as shown in Figure 1.
  • No more than 3 feet within a corner area reaching 20 feet from the middle of the curve.
    Applies: For corner lots whose corner property lines follow a curve.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    The height limit for a fence, hedge, screening or other visual obstruction for a corner lot whose corner property lines are found along a curve shall not exceed three feet in height within the area of a polygon whose apex is the midpoint of the arc at the corner and whose furthermost vertices are points located 20 feet away from the apex as shown in Figure 2.
  • No more than 3 feet in an area the chief planner defines.
    Applies: For corner lots whose corner property lines do not fit the straight or curved cases, to prevent a traffic hazard.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    the chief planner shall define the area in which no visual obstruction shall exceed three feet in height in a manner so as to prevent a traffic hazard.
Height anywhere on the lot
  • No more than 4 feet combined.
    Applies: Fence on a retaining wall on a property line, measured from the higher side, in front of the front yard setback line.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    with a combined height limited to four feet in height forward of the front yard setback line along the property lines, and six feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback along the property lines.
  • No more than 6 feet combined.
    Applies: Fence on a retaining wall on a property line, measured from the higher side, behind the front yard setback.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    with a combined height limited to four feet in height forward of the front yard setback line along the property lines, and six feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback along the property lines.
  • No more than 6 feet combined.
    Applies: Fence on a retaining wall on a property line, measured from the lower side, in front of the front yard setback line.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    From the lower side, the combined height shall be limited to six feet in height forward of the front yard setback line along the property lines and eight feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback along the property lines.
  • No more than 8 feet combined.
    Applies: Fence on a retaining wall on a property line, measured from the lower side, behind the front yard setback.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    From the lower side, the combined height shall be limited to six feet in height forward of the front yard setback line along the property lines and eight feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback along the property lines.
  • No more than 4 feet combined.
    Applies: Fence on a retaining wall that is entirely on one property, in front of the front yard setback line.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    with a combined height limited to four feet in height forward of the front yard setback line and six feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback.
  • No more than 6 feet combined.
    Applies: Fence on a retaining wall that is entirely on one property, behind the front yard setback.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    with a combined height limited to four feet in height forward of the front yard setback line and six feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback.
  • Fence no more than 4 feet.
    Applies: Fence on 1 property with the retaining wall on the neighboring property, in front of the front yard setback line.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    the maximum fence height is limited to four feet in height forward of the front yard setback line and six feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback
  • Fence no more than 6 feet.
    Applies: Fence on 1 property with the retaining wall on the neighboring property, behind the front yard setback.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    the maximum fence height is limited to four feet in height forward of the front yard setback line and six feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback
Front yard height
  • No more than 4 feet.
    Applies: For fences, hedges and screens in front of the front yard setback line.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    Fences, hedges, screen plantings, or other visual obstructions (other than allowed garden structures) are hereafter limited to four feet in height forward of the front yard setback line, six feet in height on the front yard setback line, and six feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback along the property lines and within required setback areas.
  • No more than 6 feet.
    Applies: For fences, hedges and screens on the front yard setback line.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    Fences, hedges, screen plantings, or other visual obstructions (other than allowed garden structures) are hereafter limited to four feet in height forward of the front yard setback line, six feet in height on the front yard setback line, and six feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback along the property lines and within required setback areas.
  • Up to 6 feet.
    Applies: For deer fencing along the front property line in front of a home, only with an administrative use permit.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    Deer fencing may be permitted up to six feet in height along the front property line to the front of any dwelling if an administrative use permit is first obtained.
Side and rear yard height
  • No more than 6 feet.
    Applies: Behind the front yard setback, along property lines and within required setback areas.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    Fences, hedges, screen plantings, or other visual obstructions (other than allowed garden structures) are hereafter limited to four feet in height forward of the front yard setback line, six feet in height on the front yard setback line, and six feet in height to the rear of the front yard setback along the property lines and within required setback areas.
Permit
  • An administrative use permit for any height above the normal limit, and for front deer fencing up to 6 feet.
    § 23.64.130 · code text
    A height greater than otherwise allowed in this section may be permitted if an administrative use permit is first obtained.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Pacific Grove?

Fences are limited to 4 feet forward of the front yard setback line and 6 feet on or behind it along property lines. Corner lots with straight property lines: fences limited to 3 feet within a triangle with 20-foot sides from the corner nearest the intersection.

General information, not legal advice.

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