Yorba Linda · Building on your lot

Fences and walls in Yorba Linda

Yorba Linda limits fences directly in front of the house to 36 inches; side and rear lines off the street, 6 feet.

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Key points

Fence height: Yorba Linda limits fences directly in front of the house to 36 inches; side and rear lines off the street, 6 feet.

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

What Yorba Linda's code says

Yorba Linda code What Yorba Linda's code adds
Corner visibility	A corner cut-off sight triangle of at least 20 feet. Applies: At street intersections, unless the City Engineer requires more distance. § 18.26.090 · code text The triangle formed shall have a minimum dimension of 20 feet as depicted in Figure 18.26-5 unless determined by the City Engineer that additional distance is necessary to maintain adequate sight distance. A sight triangle of at least 10 feet. Applies: Where each driveway meets a public street, sidewalk or other right-of-way. § 18.26.090 · code text A corner cut-off area shall be provided at the intersection of each driveway and a public street, sidewalk, or other right-of-way in the form of a triangle with a minimum dimension of 10 feet as depicted in Figure 18.26-6
Height anywhere on the lot	Fences and walls may be no more than 6 feet tall on the side facing a neighbor. Applies: All locations except the required front yard; measured from the top to finished grade. § 18.26.090 · code text the maximum height of all fences and walls for all locations except the required front yard is six feet from top to finished grade for the face of the wall facing an adjacent property Fences and walls may be no more than 9 feet tall on the side facing the owner's property. Applies: All locations except the required front yard; measured from the top to finished grade. § 18.26.090 · code text the maximum height of all fences and walls for all locations except the required front yard is six feet from top to finished grade for the face of the wall facing an adjacent property, and nine feet from top to finished grade for the face of the wall facing the subject property Individual retaining walls may be no more than 9 feet tall. § 18.26.090 · code text The maximum height of individual retaining walls shall not exceed nine feet
Front yard height	Walls or fences may be no more than 36 inches tall. Applies: The required front yard directly in front of the home, for a width equal to the zone's minimum lot width. § 18.10.130 · code text A wall or fence shall not exceed 36 inches in height for any portion of the required front yard located directly in front of the dwelling and for a width equal to the minimum lot width for the zone Decorative elements such as pilasters may be up to 42 inches tall. Applies: In that front yard area, with Community Development Director approval after City Traffic Engineer review. § 18.10.130 · code text the Community Development Director may approve minor increases in height up to 42 inches for decorative elements, such as pilasters, after review by the City Traffic Engineer. A wrought iron fence may be up to 5 feet tall. Applies: Other parts of the required front yard. § 18.10.130 · code text All other portions of the required front yard may have a wrought iron fence not exceeding five feet in height A masonry and wrought iron fence may be up to 5 feet tall. Applies: Other parts of the required front yard. The masonry part may be no more than 3 feet tall. § 18.10.130 · code text or a combination five-foot-high masonry and wrought iron, where the masonry portion does not exceed three feet in height.
Side and rear yard height	Walls or fences may be up to 6 feet tall. Applies: Along side or rear property lines not next to a public street, and not extending into the required front yard. § 18.10.130 · code text A wall or fence not more than six feet in height may be maintained along a side or rear property line provided it is not adjacent to a public street, and further provided that such wall or fence does not extend into the required front yard
Permit	A conditional use permit is required. Applies: Estate fences taller than the height limits. § 18.26.090 · code text estate fences may exceed the height limits of this section subject to approval of a conditional use permit. A conditional use permit from the Planning Commission is required. Applies: Fences or walls in the required front yard that exceed the front yard limits. § 18.10.130 · code text In order to fence or wall in the required front yard to exceed these requirements, a conditional use permit shall be approved by the Planning Commission after review by the City Traffic Engineer

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Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Yorba Linda?

Yorba Linda limits fences directly in front of the house to 36 inches; side and rear lines off the street, 6 feet.

General information, not legal advice.

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Yorba Linda Municipal Code — full text