South El Monte · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in South El Monte

South El Monte limits residential front-yard fences to 42 inches if solid, or 6 feet if the part above 42 inches is see-through.

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Key points

Fence height: South El Monte limits residential front-yard fences to 42 inches if solid, or 6 feet if the part above 42 inches is see-through.

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

What South El Monte's code says

South El Monte code What South El Monte's code adds
Corner visibility	Nothing over 40 inches tall in the corner triangle, which extends 40 feet from the intersection. Applies: Corner or reversed corner lots. § 17.05.080 · code text it shall be prohibited to construct, install or maintain any fence, hedge or wall or any other obstruction to view higher than forty inches above the reference point
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences, hedges and walls can be at most 10 feet tall. Applies: R-1 zone, next to a freeway right-of-way; over 6 feet needs a building permit. § 17.05.080 · code text except that fences, hedges and walls located adjacent to a freeway right-of-way shall not exceed ten feet in height Fences or walls can be at most 10 feet tall. Applies: R-2 and R-3 zones, next to a freeway right-of-way. § 17.05.080 · code text except that fences or walls located adjacent to a freeway right-of-way shall not exceed ten feet in height
Front yard height	Solid fences can be at most 42 inches tall. Applies: R-1 zone, required front yard; concrete, block, masonry or wood fences that block the view. § 17.05.080 · code text no sight obscuring fence (concrete, block, masonry or wood) shall exceed forty-two inches in height Fences can be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: R-1 front yard; the part above 42 inches must be wrought iron, chain link or other see-through material, with director design approval. § 17.05.080 · code text the fence may be increased in height to six feet if the increase consists of wrought iron, chain link, or other "see through" materials and the design is approved by the director of planning and community development Solid fences can be at most 42 inches tall. Applies: R-2 and R-3 zones, front yard of interior lots; concrete, block, masonry or wood fences that block the view. § 17.05.080 · code text no sight-obscuring fence (concrete, block, masonry or wood) shall exceed forty-two inches in height Fences can be up to 6 feet tall overall. Applies: R-2 and R-3 front yards of interior lots; the part above 42 inches must be see-through, with director design approval. § 17.05.080 · code text the fence may be increased to an overall height of six feet if the increase consists of wrought iron, chain link, or other "see through" materials and the design approved by the director of planning and community development
Side and rear yard height	Fences and walls can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: R-1 zone, behind the front setback and along side and rear property lines. § 17.05.080 · code text Fences and walls located to the rear of the front setback and along the side and rear property line shall not exceed six feet in height Fences, hedges and walls can be at most 6 feet tall. Applies: R-2 and R-3 zones, behind the front setback and along the side and rear of the property. § 17.05.080 · code text Fences, hedges and walls located to the rear of the front setback and along the side and rear of the property shall not exceed six feet in height
Permit	A building permit is required for any fence over 6 feet. Applies: Fences, hedges and walls in the R-1 zone. § 17.05.080 · code text provided, that any height increase exceeding six feet will require a building permit

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in South El Monte?

South El Monte limits residential front-yard fences to 42 inches if solid, or 6 feet if the part above 42 inches is see-through.

General information, not legal advice.

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South El Monte Municipal Code — full text