Fences and walls in San Marino: the local rules

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

What San Marino's code says

San Marino code What San Marino's code adds
Front yard height	No more than 4 feet high. Applies: Fences, yard walls or retaining walls in front yards in Area Districts III, IV, V, VI or VII. § 23.13.04 · code text No fence, yard wall or retaining wall in Area District III, IV, V, VI or VII shall exceed four feet (4') in height. No more than 5 feet 6 inches high. Applies: Fences, yard walls or retaining walls in front yards in Area District I or II. § 23.13.04 · code text No fence, yard wall or retaining wall in Area District I or II shall exceed five feet six inches (5'6") in height. No more than 4 feet high. Applies: R-1 front yards: fences and walls less than 20 feet from the side street line of a corner lot next to a key lot. § 23.13.04 · code text Fences, yard walls and retaining walls less than twenty feet (20') from the side street property line on a corner lot abutting a key lot shall not exceed four feet (4') in height. Hedges no more than 4 feet high. Applies: Required front yards in the R-1 zone. Other hedge limits apply in Area District II, Districts IE and I, and listed major streets. § 23.13.04 · code text No hedge shall exceed four feet (4') in height in the required front yard in the R-1 Zone. Hedges no more than 5 feet or the height of a legal wall or fence, whichever is greater. Applies: Required front yards in the R-1 zone, Area District II. § 23.13.04 · code text In the R-1 Zone, Area District II, no hedge shall exceed the greater of 5 feet (5') or the height of a legally existing or permitted wall or fence in the required front yard. Hedges no more than 4 feet or the height of a legal chainlink or wire fence, whichever is greater. Applies: Required front yards in the R-1 zone, Districts IE and I only. § 23.13.04 · code text In Districts IE and I only, no hedge shall exceed the greater of four feet (4') or the height of an existing and legally permitted chainlink or wire front yard fence. Hedges no more than 8 feet high. Applies: Properties facing Huntington Drive, Sierra Madre, California and San Gabriel Boulevards, Los Robles Avenue, and Oak Knoll Avenue north of Huntington. § 23.13.04 · code text Hedges on these specific streets shall not exceed eight feet (8') in height. No more than 4 feet high. Applies: Retaining walls in the front yard. § 23.13.04 · code text No retaining wall shall exceed four feet (4') in height.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet high. Applies: Fences, yard walls and retaining walls in required side or rear yards in the R-1 zone. § 23.13.04 · code text Fences, yard walls and retaining walls within the required side yard shall not exceed six feet (6') in height. No more than 4 feet high. Applies: R-1 side or rear yards: less than 20 feet from the side street line of a corner lot next to a key lot. § 23.13.04 · code text Fences, gates, pilasters, yard walls, and retaining walls less than twenty feet (20') from the side street property line on a corner lot abutting a key lot shall not exceed four feet (4') in height. No more than 4 feet high. Applies: R-1 required side yards: less than 20 feet from the front street property line next to any alley. § 23.13.04 · code text Fences, gates, pilasters, yard walls, and retaining walls less than twenty feet (20') from the front street property line abutting any alley shall not exceed four feet (4') in height. Up to 12 feet total. Applies: R-1 side or rear yards of lots next to an alley, where the grade difference is over 2 feet, measured from the home side. § 23.13.04 · code text the maximum height of the fence and wall may be increased to a total height of twelve feet (12').

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How tall can a fence be in San Marino?

Front-yard fences: at most 4 feet, or 5 ft 6 in in Area Districts I and II; R-1 side and rear yards, 6 feet.

Fences and walls in San Marino

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What San Marino's code says

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