Skip to content

Riverbank · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Riverbank

Front and corner street-side setbacks: fences, walls and hedges limited to 3 feet; 90% transparent fences along a corner side street, 4 feet. Solid fences in other required yards are limited to 7 feet, and any fence over 6 feet needs a permit (city rule).

Key points

  • Front yards: Front and corner street-side setbacks: fences, walls and hedges limited to 3 feet; 90% transparent fences along a corner side street, 4 feet.
  • Other yards: Solid fences in other required yards are limited to 7 feet, and any fence over 6 feet needs a permit (city rule).

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

What Riverbank's code says

Riverbank code What Riverbank's code adds
Corner visibility
  • No solid fence, wall or hedge over 3 feet; no other blocking between 3 feet 6 inches and 10 feet.
    Applies: Front or street side yard of a corner lot; posts, columns or trees up to 2 feet across are allowed.
    § 153.033 · code text
    Within the front or street side yard of a corner lot in any district there shall be no solid fence, wall or hedge height greater than three feet nor any obstruction other than a post, building column or tree not more than two feet in diameter, between the height of three feet six inches and ten feet above the top of the curb, or if no curb exists, above maximum street grade.
  • Nothing over 3 feet tall in a 30-foot corner triangle or a 10-foot driveway sight triangle.
    Applies: Corner and reverse corner lots, and driveway sight triangles 10 feet back from the sidewalk and 10 feet along it.
    § 153.033 · code text
    No obstruction to view in excess of three feet in height shall be placed in any corner or reverse corner lot within a triangular area formed by the extension of the lot line to a point of intersection and a line connecting them at a distance of 30 feet to said intersection.
Height anywhere on the lot
  • Solid fences, walls, hedges and retaining walls can be up to 7 feet tall.
    Applies: In required yards; 3 feet in front setbacks, corner lot street side setbacks, and reversed corner lot lines next to a key lot's front yard.
    § 153.033 · code text
    Solid fences, walls, hedges and retaining walls not more than seven feet in height may occupy any required yard or other space
Front yard height
  • Fences, walls, hedges and retaining walls can be no more than 3 feet tall.
    Applies: Front setback, street side setback of a corner lot, or a reversed corner lot line next to the key lot's front yard.
    § 153.033 · code text
    except that fences, walls, hedges and retaining walls shall be no higher than three feet when located in the required front yard setback area
  • Small decorative fences can be up to 3 feet tall, out to the back of the sidewalk.
    Applies: Within the required 10-foot front yard setback.
    § 153.033 · code text
    Small architectural accent fences within the required ten foot front yard setback, are allowed to be constructed no higher than three feet out to the back of the sidewalk.
  • Courtyard walls can be no more than 4 feet 6 inches tall.
    Applies: Front yard courtyard walls at least 13 feet behind the front property line, enclosing no more than 2 sides.
    § 153.033 · code text
    Courtyard walls shall be no higher than four feet six inches.
Side and rear yard height
  • Fences can be no more than 8 feet tall.
    Applies: Any side or rear yard; wire fences and see-through fences are not counted.
    § 153.033 · code text
    No fence (excluding wire fences and non-solid fences which do not limit visibility as determined by the Planning Director) shall be constructed in excess of eight feet in height within any side or rear yard
  • See-through fences, 90% transparent, can be up to 4 feet tall.
    Applies: Front setback along a corner lot's side street, or a reverse corner lot line next to the key lot's front yard.
    § 153.033 · code text
    fences with 90% transparency no higher than four feet may occupy the required front setback area along the side street of a corner lot and along the rear or side lot line or a reverse corner lot where it abuts the front yard of the adjoining key lot.
Permit
  • A fence permit from the Community Development Department is required.
    Applies: Any fence over 6 feet tall in the city.
    § 153.033 · code text
    A fence permit, issued by the Community Development Department shall be obtained prior to the erection of any fence over six feet in height within the city.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Riverbank?

Front and corner street-side setbacks: fences, walls and hedges limited to 3 feet; 90% transparent fences along a corner side street, 4 feet. Solid fences in other required yards are limited to 7 feet, and any fence over 6 feet needs a permit (city rule).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Riverbank property

Ask GoCodebook how Riverbank'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 Riverbank