Fence Companyin Beverly Hills, CA
A fence company in Beverly Hills works from three zoning rulebooks: the Central Area, the Hillside Area and Trousdale Estates. Near the street all three hold fences to 3 feet, and a building permit is needed for any fence in a front yard or over 6 feet. Trousdale slopes add a 36 inch view limit; confirm your lot's area.
Beverly Hills was farmland on Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas until the Rodeo Land and Water Company began selling lots in 1906, and in 1923 its voters turned down annexation to Los Angeles, 507 to 337. The result is a city of 5.71 square miles where only about 37 percent of the 16,552 housing units are single-family detached homes, 28 percent date from 1939 or earlier and the median year built is 1958. Trousdale Estates, roughly 410 acres on the former Doheny Ranch, went up mainly in the 1950s and early 1960s. Each area kept its own zoning article, and each writes fence heights differently.
On a fence job MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) is the general contractor: we confirm which area the lot falls in, draw the layout and run the schedule, while a licensed C-13 fencing subcontractor builds the fence and a licensed mason handles any block. Our fencing page carries the sourced prices, the Beverly Hills overview lists every trade, and nearby cities measure heights their own way, as the fence guides for West Hollywood and Santa Monica show.
What Beverly Hills' zoning code says about fences, walls and hedges
Where fencing permits come from in Beverly Hills: City of Beverly Hills Community Development Department, Building & Safety (Permit Center).
- In the Central Area, Municipal Code 10-3-2420 requires a building permit for any wall or fence over 6 feet and for any wall or fence in a front yard regardless of height. In the first 20 percent of the front yard, walls and fences top out at 3 feet and anything over 18 inches must sit at least 3 feet from the front lot line with landscaping between. Beyond that point the limit is 6 feet, and any portion above 3 feet must be open to public view. Source is a third-party mirror of the code with an AI summary layer, because the official host blocked automated access.
- Under the same Central Area section, a wall or fence in a side yard only may be 7 feet tall (10 feet within 5 feet of the rear lot line), rear-yard walls and fences may be 10 feet and hedges 16 feet, no wall or fence may be more than 2 feet thick, columns and posts may not be wider than 24 inches, walls within 5 feet of a property line need a finished appearance on both sides, and block must be coated with stucco or another approved finish.
- The mirror's design-review topic page says walls, fences or hedges over 3 feet in a Central Area front yard, where otherwise allowed, must be approved through R-1 Design Review (Article 44) by the Design Review Commission, and that deviations up to 10 percent can go through a substantial compliance process. The page does not give the section number, so confirm with Planning.
- A Central R-1 permit (Article 24.5) can set a height limit for game court fences within 5 feet of a property line. The Planning Commission is generally the reviewing authority, a public hearing is held, and the permit cannot issue unless the Commission finds no substantial adverse impact on streetscape scale and massing, neighbors' light, air and privacy, or the City's garden quality.
- In the Hillside Area, Municipal Code 10-3-2516 bars any wall or fence within 3 feet of a front or street side lot line, caps walls and fences at 3 feet from 3 to 10 feet back, and allows 6 feet beyond 10 feet with any portion over 3 feet open to public view. Elsewhere the limit is 7 feet measured from the side with the higher grade, with a 12 foot absolute cap, and a building permit is required for any wall or fence over 6 feet or in a front yard.
- Hillside walls in series are limited to a cumulative height of 12 feet within any 50 foot section, with at least 10 feet of landscaped area between segments when a cut through them totals 7 feet or more, and a minor accommodation can allow a 6 foot wall 3 to 10 feet from the lot line if it is open to public view (10-3-2516, third-party code mirror).
- A Hillside R-1 permit (Article 25.5) can allow a wall of up to 6 feet to encroach into a front or street side yard, or let a wall, fence or hedge exceed the 10-3-2516 heights. The Planning Commission decides after a public hearing and must find no substantial adverse impact on neighbors, streetscape scale and garden quality. The permit expires three years after approval unless construction has begun, with one extension of up to two years.
- In Trousdale Estates, 10-3-2616 requires a building permit for any wall or fence over 6 feet or in a front yard, caps walls and fences at 3 feet in the first 20 percent of the front yard and 6 feet beyond (open to public view above 3 feet), 7 feet in a side yard only (8 feet within 5 feet of the rear lot line) and 8 feet in a rear yard.
Sources for these rules
- gocodebook.com: article 24 single family residential development standards f
- gocodebook.com: design review
- gocodebook.com: article 24.5 central r 1 permits
- gocodebook.com: article 25 single family residential development standards f
- gocodebook.com: article 25.5 hillside r 1 permit
- gocodebook.com: article 26 single family residential development standards f
How tall can a fence be in a Beverly Hills front, side or rear yard?
In the Central Area the code sorts the limits by yard (Municipal Code 10-3-2420). In the first 20 percent of the front yard, walls and fences top out at 3 feet, and anything over 18 inches must sit at least 3 feet from the front lot line with landscaping between. Beyond that point the limit is 6 feet, and any portion above 3 feet must be open to public view. A wall or fence in a side yard only may reach 7 feet, or 10 feet within 5 feet of the rear lot line, and rear-yard walls and fences may reach 10 feet, with hedges up to 16 feet.
Construction details count too. No wall or fence may be more than 2 feet thick, columns and posts may not be wider than 24 inches, a wall within 5 feet of a property line needs a finished appearance on both sides, and block must be coated with stucco or another approved finish. We read Article 24 on the GoCodebook mirror because the City's official code host blocked our tools, so confirm each number with Planning before you order materials.
Can I build a front yard fence or wall taller than 3 feet in Beverly Hills?
Only with review, and the review depends on the area. In the Central Area a fence in a front yard needs a building permit whatever its height, and the mirror's Design Review topic page says walls, fences or hedges over 3 feet there, where otherwise allowed, must be approved through R-1 Design Review (Article 44) by the Design Review Commission. Deviations up to 10 percent can go through a substantial compliance process. That page gives no section number, so ask Planning which route your wall takes.
Game courts have their own permit. A Central R-1 permit under Article 24.5 can set a height limit for game court fences within 5 feet of a property line. The Planning Commission is generally the reviewing authority and holds a public hearing, and the permit cannot issue unless the Commission finds no substantial adverse impact on streetscape scale and massing, neighbors' light, air and privacy, or the City's garden quality. Build the hearing into your calendar.
A front yard wall is a design question and a permit question at the same time.
What are the fence and wall rules in Beverly Hills' Hillside Area?
The Hillside Area writes its own rule in section 10-3-2516. No wall or fence may stand within 3 feet of a front or street side lot line, walls and fences stop at 3 feet from 3 to 10 feet back, and beyond 10 feet the limit is 6 feet, with any portion over 3 feet open to public view. Elsewhere the limit is 7 feet measured from the side with the higher grade, with a 12 foot absolute cap, and a building permit is required for any wall or fence over 6 feet or in a front yard.
Walls built in a series are limited to a cumulative 12 feet within any 50 foot section, with at least 10 feet of landscaped area between segments when a cut through them totals 7 feet or more. A Hillside R-1 permit under Article 25.5 can allow a wall of up to 6 feet in a front or street side yard, or let a wall, fence or hedge exceed those heights. The Planning Commission decides after a public hearing, and the permit expires three years after approval unless construction has begun, with one extension of up to two years.
Retaining walls also count toward the Hillside cut and fill limit of 1,000 cubic yards plus one-tenth of the site area over five years (10-3-2521).
How do Trousdale Estates' slope view and hedge rules change a fence?
Under section 10-3-2616, a building permit is needed for any wall or fence over 6 feet or in a front yard. Walls and fences stop at 3 feet in the first 20 percent of the front yard and 6 feet beyond it, with anything over 3 feet open to public view. A side-yard-only fence may reach 7 feet (8 feet within 5 feet of the rear lot line), and a rear-yard fence 8 feet.
The slope rule is the one people miss. Section 10-3-2616(G) limits new fences in the line of sight from an upslope property toward the Los Angeles basin to 36 inches above the upslope level pad and requires them to be open to public view, and a fence of which more than 50 percent is replaced within five years must conform. A hedge is vegetation over 12 inches tall made of two or more plants less than 8 feet apart. Hedges between adjacent downslope and upslope lots facing the basin are capped at the higher of the upslope pad grade or 14 feet above the downslope pad, and a hedge violation found three times in two years means the plants must come out.
On a Trousdale slope, an open rail design is often the only one that fits the view limit.
Do I need a permit for fence installation in Beverly Hills, and who may build it?
Any wall or fence over 6 feet, or in a front yard, needs a building permit in all three areas, as the code text on the mirror reads. We could not open Municipal Code 9-1-107(B), the City's exemption list, so we do not call any other fence permit-free. The July 2023 Permit Center guide lists fences, walls, fire pits, BBQ areas and water features among the jobs handled at the Building & Safety walk-in counter, which says where to go and not whether a permit applies. Start at the Permit Center.
A licensed contractor is required for any project valued at $1,000 or more, and owner-builder permits cover only owner-occupied single-family homes. Fences are CSLB class C-13, which builds and repairs fences, corrals, runs, railings and gates and excludes masonry walls, so block goes to a licensed mason and must meet the stucco finish and 24 inch column limit above.
Digging starts no earlier than 8 AM Monday through Friday, the City's construction hours, and Municipal Code 5-1-205 bars Saturday work inside or within 500 feet of a residential zone unless the building official issues an after-hours permit.
Who pays for a shared fence in Beverly Hills, and where is the property line?
Neighbors split it unless they agreed otherwise. California Civil Code 841 presumes adjoining owners share the reasonable cost of building, maintaining or replacing a boundary fence equally. An owner who plans such work must give each affected neighbor 30 days' prior written notice stating the presumption, the problem, the proposed fix, the estimated costs, a cost-sharing proposal and a timeline.
The height of a line fence depends on the area and the yard. A fence in a side yard only may reach 7 feet in the Central Area and in Trousdale Estates, so a neighbor who wants it lower or higher is arguing with the code as well as with you. Because 59 percent of occupied units are rented, the owner across the line may be a landlord who has to approve the cost. Order a survey before posts go in, and keep the notice and the reply in writing.
How much does fence installation cost in Beverly Hills, and how do I choose a fence company?
We found no Beverly Hills fence survey, so the figures are for Los Angeles. Angi's Los Angeles page, updated August 4, 2026, shows an average job of $3,051 (range $1,734 to $4,422) and $15 to $60 a linear foot, with 100 feet running $2,100 to $2,350. HomeGuide lists $20 to $60 a foot, Thumbtack shows $23 to $57 a foot nationally, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the Los Angeles area mean wage for fence erectors at $28.00 an hour as of May 2025. From these we plan about $25 to $55 a linear foot for a wood or vinyl privacy fence. Block walls, slat designs, gates and hillside footings are priced on site.
Ask each fence company for its license number, the permit it will pull, and separate lines for a survey, post depth and haul-away of the old fence. Our contractor license guide shows how to look up each number, and how general contractors use subcontractors explains the chain of responsibility. A down payment above $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract, whichever is less, breaks the home improvement contract rule in Business and Professions Code 7159.5.
Fence photos from Beverly Hills and nearby communities
Seven fencing scenes tied to Beverly Hills streets and to nearby places such as Holmby Hills, Bel Air and West Hollywood, from footings and slat panels to hillside runs and gates.
Where these Beverly Hills fence figures come from
Every fence price and its source is in the table on our fencing price page. A fence often goes up with other work, and the Beverly Hills rules for it are on the roofing page, the painting page and the kitchen remodeling page. For cities that measure heights differently, read the fence guides for Culver City and Los Angeles.
| What it covers | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Wood or vinyl privacy fence, 6 feet | $25 to $55 per linear foot |
| Chain-link | $12 to $30 per linear foot |
| Aluminum or ornamental iron | $35 to $85 per linear foot |
| Typical 100-foot backyard run | $2,500 to $5,500 total |
| Block walls, horizontal slat fences, gates and openers, hillside lots | Set by the written proposal |
Other work we manage in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills fence questions, answered
Do I need a permit for fence installation in Beverly Hills?
Yes for any fence in a front yard or over 6 feet, according to the zoning text we read on a code mirror. We could not read the exemption list in Municipal Code 9-1-107(B), so we call no other fence permit-free. Start at the Permit Center, name the area your lot is in and get the answer in writing.
How tall can my front fence be in Beverly Hills?
In the Central Area and Trousdale Estates, 3 feet in the first 20 percent of the front yard, then 6 feet with anything above 3 feet open to public view. The Hillside Area bars fences within 3 feet of the street lot line and allows 3 feet from 3 to 10 feet back. A front yard fence needs a permit at any height.
What is the maximum height for a backyard fence in Beverly Hills?
It depends on the area. Central Area rear-yard fences may reach 10 feet, Trousdale Estates allows 8 feet in a rear yard, and the Hillside Area allows 7 feet measured from the higher grade with a 12 foot cap. We read these on a code mirror, so confirm the number with Planning.
Can I put up a 7 ft fence in Beverly Hills?
Often in a side yard, since the Central Area and Trousdale Estates allow 7 feet there, and the Hillside Area allows 7 feet measured from the higher grade. In a front yard the limit near the street is 3 feet, and any fence over 6 feet needs a building permit. Check your lot's area first.
How much does it cost to have 100 feet of fence installed?
Angi's Los Angeles page shows $2,100 to $2,350 for 100 feet, while its own range of $15 to $60 a foot implies $1,500 to $6,000. We plan $25 to $55 a foot for wood or vinyl privacy fences. Block walls and hillside footings run higher, and we found no Beverly Hills survey.
How much does a horizontal slat fence cost?
We found no independent price for slat fences, so we print none. They usually cost more than a standard picket or board fence because boards, spacing and posts are custom. In Trousdale Estates a slat design must also stay open to public view and within 36 inches in the basin line of sight.
Does my neighbor have to pay for half the fence in California?
Presumably yes. Civil Code 841 presumes adjoining owners share the reasonable cost of a boundary fence equally unless they agreed otherwise in writing. The owner who plans the work must give 30 days' prior written notice with the problem, the fix, the cost estimate and a cost-sharing proposal.
What is the maximum height for hedges in Beverly Hills?
In the Central Area, hedges may reach 16 feet in a rear yard. In Trousdale Estates a hedge between downslope and upslope lots facing the basin is capped at the higher of the upslope pad grade or 14 feet above the downslope pad. Both rules come from a code mirror, so confirm them with Planning.
Can I install my own backyard fence?
Possibly. The City issues owner-builder permits only for owner-occupied single-family homes, and it requires a licensed contractor for any project valued at $1,000 or more. The state's $1,000 exception for unlicensed work applies only when no permit is needed and you employ no one.
Describe your Beverly Hills fence project
Give us the address, the yard where the fence will go and whether the lot slopes toward a neighbor. We check which zoning area applies before we call back.