Skip to content

Pacifica · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Pacifica

Fences: at most 3 feet in required front yards and within 25 feet of a street corner; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

Key points

  • Fence heights: Fences: at most 3 feet in required front yards and within 25 feet of a street corner; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

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

What Pacifica's code says

Pacifica code What Pacifica's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No more than 3 feet within 25 feet of a street corner, measured at the property line.
    Applies: For corner lots.
    § 9-4.2503 · code text
    nor exceed three (3′) feet in height within the required front yard of any dwelling, or, for corner lots, within twenty-five (25′) feet of a street corner measured at the property line.
Front yard height
  • No more than 3 feet.
    Applies: Within the required front yard of any home.
    § 9-4.2503 · code text
    nor exceed three (3′) feet in height within the required front yard of any dwelling, or, for corner lots, within twenty-five (25′) feet of a street corner measured at the property line.
  • Up to 4 feet.
    Applies: A fence or wall limited to 3 feet may be raised with open work fence material, with Planning Director approval.
    § 9-4.2503 · code text
    Fences or walls limited to three (3′) feet in height may be vertically extended up to four (4′) feet with open work fence material, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, subject to approval of the Planning Director, who shall consider the compatibility of the fence design with its site and surrounding uses.
Side and rear yard height
  • No more than 6 feet, unless the law requires otherwise.
    Applies: In a required side yard behind the required front yard, or in any required rear yard.
    § 9-4.2503 · code text
    No fence, hedge, wall, or screen planting of any kind shall be constructed or grown to exceed six (6′) feet in height (unless otherwise required by law) within any required side yard to the rear of the required front yard of any dwelling or within any required rear yard;
Permit
  • Planning Director approval is needed to raise a 3-foot fence to 4 feet with open work material.
    Applies: For fences in the required front yard or within 25 feet of a street corner.
    § 9-4.2503 · code text
    Commercial fences may not exceed six (6′) feet in height, unless additional height is allowed with a site development permit.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Pacifica?

Fences: at most 3 feet in required front yards and within 25 feet of a street corner; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Pacifica property

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

Ask your question

More on building on your lot in Pacifica