Fence Companyin Calabasas, CA
A fence company in Calabasas works to a sliding front limit: 42 inches at the front property line, rising to 6 feet by 10 feet back, and 6 feet in side and rear yards. Wood and iron fences within those heights skip a land use permit on most lots, but oaks and the Scenic Corridor change that.
Fences in Calabasas often start with the ground, not the panels. The city grew from a rural enclave around the Leonis Adobe, dated to about 1844, into a 1991 city of 9,431 housing units on canyon, ridge and valley lots, and Census Bureau estimates for 2020 to 2024 show 60 percent of units are detached houses and 33.6 percent date from the 1980s. A hillside backyard with an oak at the line, or a lot along a scenic road, can turn a plain fence into a three-office question.
On a fence job MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) is the general contractor: we confirm the line and the height rules, draw the layout and run the schedule, while a licensed C-13 fencing subcontractor builds it and a licensed mason handles block. Sourced prices are on our fencing page, the Calabasas overview lists every trade, and nearby cities set other limits, as the guides for Los Angeles and Beverly Hills show.
What Calabasas's code says about fences, walls and gates
Where fencing permits come from in Calabasas: City of Calabasas Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division.
- Municipal Code 17.20.100(B) limits freestanding fences, walls and hedges to 42 inches at the front property line, rising 6 inches for every 2 feet back to a maximum of 6 feet at 10 feet from the line, with a 6 foot limit beyond the front setback and in side and rear yard setbacks. Entry features over a front gate (arches, trellises, pilasters) up to 8 feet high and 8 feet wide can be authorized through site plan review, and the director may approve up to 25 percent more height as long as the average height does not exceed 6 feet 6 inches without a variance.
- Under Municipal Code 17.20.100(A) and 17.02.020(B), wood, wrought iron and chain link fences in residential districts that meet the height limits are exempt from land use permits, and fences in the RS zone are exempt except inside the Scenic Corridor overlay, where a residential fence needs a minor scenic corridor permit.
- The same section's chain link rule (17.20.100(F)) allows chain link fencing only in the OS, HM, RR, RC and CL zones, and in RC and CL only along side and rear lines behind the front setback with screening vegetation, while 17.20.100(E) bans barbed wire, razor wire and electrified fencing in every zone unless a law requires it. Because the text allows chain link in residential districts in one place and lists only some zones in another, ask Planning before using chain link on an RS lot.
- Retaining walls under Municipal Code 17.20.100(B)(3) may not exceed 6 feet individually unless the director approves, outward-facing walls in a front setback may not exceed 4 feet, outward-facing walls in a side or rear setback facing a street or public park are limited to 4 feet (6 feet with director approval), and tiered walls need at least 4 feet of horizontal distance between them.
- Municipal Code 17.02.020(B) exempts concrete and masonry walls under 42 inches high in residential districts from land use permits, and exempts retaining walls that retain grade changes of 36 inches or less when no grading permit is needed, as long as the walls meet 17.20.100.
- On a corner lot, no fence, wall, hedge, mound or other obstruction over 42 inches above the curb elevation may stand in the traffic safety visibility area (Municipal Code 17.20.100 and 17.20.140(F)), and fences and walls along a public right-of-way should be articulated with a 2 foot deep by 5 foot long landscaped recession for every 100 feet of continuous wall.
- Fencing on RR, HM and OS parcels next to mapped sensitive biological areas, County significant ecological areas or wildlife corridors must be wildlife friendly under Municipal Code 17.20.100(H), and perimeter fencing is allowed only around the immediate development area (house, accessory structures, hardscape, pool, patio) or if it is built as a wildlife friendly fence.
- Around a private swimming pool, Municipal Code 17.12.165(H) requires fencing or building walls to prevent uncontrolled access by children under Title 15 and bans chain link, and a pool or spa must be at least 5 feet from any property line and from the main residence (equipment 3 feet from the line). Title 15's pool barrier text is not in the Chapter 15.04 I read, so confirm the barrier detail with the building official.
How tall can a fence be in a Calabasas front, side or rear yard?
The front limit slides, and the rest is 6 feet. Municipal Code 17.20.100(B) caps a freestanding fence, wall or hedge at 42 inches at the front property line, adds 6 inches for every 2 feet you move back, and reaches 6 feet at 10 feet from the line. Beyond the front setback and in side and rear setbacks the limit is 6 feet. The director may approve up to 25 percent more height if the average stays at or under 6 feet 6 inches, and anything past that needs a variance.
The state's permit-exempt list, in the 2025 code as excerpted by the City of Albany, allows fences up to 7 feet, but Calabasas's own zoning limit of 6 feet is the tighter test for most yards. The City's site and Municode both blocked our tools, so we read the code on the GoCodebook mirror, and a surveyed property line is worth having before any post goes in.
Ask the bid to say where the 42 inch line starts and how the height is measured on a sloping lot.
Can I build a fence near an oak tree in Calabasas?
Yes, with a limit on how much root zone you disturb. Municipal Code 17.32.010 requires an oak tree permit to alter any oak, and the community development director can approve encroachments into an oak's protected zone, fence installations among them, that affect up to 10 percent of the zone. Larger encroachments go to the Planning Commission with an oak tree report from a city-qualified arborist.
That matters for post holes and footings. A line of concrete footings through the root zone adds up faster than it looks, and a violation brings a stop work order and possibly a building moratorium of up to 10 years that binds later owners. Mitigation can include planting one inch of new oak diameter for every inch lost, with five years of monitoring. We did not read the City's oak tree guidelines, so ask Planning to mark the protected zone on your plan before the auger arrives.
Do the Scenic Corridor and hillside rules change a Calabasas fence?
They can. The Scenic Corridor overlay covers properties within 500 feet of a General Plan scenic corridor road and those between such a road and its ridgeline, and a residential fence there needs a minor scenic corridor permit even though RS-zone fences elsewhere are exempt from land use permits. We could not obtain the Scenic Corridor Development Guidelines or the list of covered roads, so we cannot tell you which streets qualify.
Rural and open space lots add wildlife rules. On RR, HM and OS parcels next to mapped sensitive biological areas, County significant ecological areas or wildlife corridors, fencing must be wildlife friendly, and perimeter fencing is allowed only around the immediate development area unless it is built that way (Municipal Code 17.20.100(H)). Hillside sites over 10 percent slope also fall under section 17.20.150, so ask Planning which overlay your lot sits in before you design a long run.
A hillside lot raises a soils question too. Municipal Code 17.20.130 asks for site-specific soils studies with grading or building permit applications for new development, including whether saturated hillside soils could become unstable, and our County map sample put 45 of 99 points in earthquake-induced landslide zones and 10 in liquefaction zones. A garden fence rarely needs a report, but a wall that holds back a slope might, so ask Building and Safety early.
Do block walls and retaining walls need a permit in Calabasas?
Sometimes, and height is only one test. Municipal Code 17.02.020(B) exempts concrete and masonry walls under 42 inches from land use permits and exempts retaining walls that hold back 36 inches of grade or less when no grading permit is needed, if they meet section 17.20.100. The state's list exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing, unless they carry a surcharge.
Taller walls have limits of their own. A retaining wall may not exceed 6 feet individually without director approval, an outward-facing wall in a front setback is capped at 4 feet, one facing a street or public park from a side or rear setback is capped at 4 feet, or 6 with approval, and tiered walls need at least 4 feet of level distance between them. Masonry is not fencing work: C-13 excludes masonry walls, so a block wall goes to a licensed C-29 mason. Grading that changes drainage needs its own permit under Municipal Code 15.10.030.
A fence on top of a retaining wall is judged as a pair, so ask the plan to show both heights.
What are the rules for front yard fences, corner lots and entry gates in Calabasas?
Corner lots get the strictest view rule. No fence, wall, hedge or mound over 42 inches above the curb may stand in the traffic safety visibility area (Municipal Code 17.20.100 and 17.20.140(F)). Fences and walls along a public right-of-way should break up long runs with a landscaped recession 2 feet deep and 5 feet long for every 100 feet of continuous wall.
Front gates can be taller than the fence. Site plan review can authorize an entry feature over a gate, such as an arch, trellis or pilasters, up to 8 feet high and 8 feet wide. Barbed wire, razor wire and electrified fencing are banned in every zone unless a law requires them, and chain link is allowed in some zones but not clearly on RS lots, since the text lists it in one place and limits it in another. Ask Planning before pricing chain link on a residential lot.
Gates sit inside the fence license. CSLB defines C-13 as constructing, erecting, altering or repairing fences, railings, guard rails, barriers and gates, excluding masonry walls. Which license class covers the wiring for a gate opener we could not confirm, so ask the fence company to name who does the electrical and to show that person's license.
What fence does a swimming pool need in Calabasas?
A barrier that stops children, and never chain link. Municipal Code 17.12.165(H) requires fencing or building walls around a private pool to prevent uncontrolled access by children under Title 15 and bans chain link for that purpose. It also places a pool or spa at least 5 feet from any property line and from the main residence, with equipment at least 3 feet from the line.
The barrier detail lives in Title 15, and the Title 15 chapters we could read do not contain it, so we print no height or latch rule. Ask the Building and Safety Division for its pool barrier requirements and write the gate, self-closing hinge and latch into the proposal as separate lines. A glass or black steel panel system is a design choice, not a code shortcut.
A pool must sit at least 5 feet from any property line, so the line fence and the pool barrier are usually two different fences with different rules. Ask for them as separate lines in the bid.
How much does fence installation cost in Calabasas, and how do I choose a fence company?
We found no Calabasas price survey, so this is a Los Angeles range with a method. Four public sources, Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr, point to about $25 to $55 a linear foot for a 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence, $12 to $30 for chain link and $35 to $85 for aluminum or ornamental iron, installed. That puts a 100 foot backyard run near $2,500 to $5,500. Angi's Los Angeles page, updated August 4, 2026, averages a job at $3,051, and federal wage data for May 2025 gives fence erectors in the Los Angeles area a mean $28.00 an hour.
Wood touching soil is a termite question, since UC Integrated Pest Management says drywood termites are most common in Southern California and infest fences. The National Weather Service forecast in October 2026 called for Santa Ana gusts of 35 to 55 mph in valleys and 50 to 70 in the foothills, so ask any fence company how post depth and panel style handle wind. Check each license with our contractor license guide, and note that a deposit above $1,000 or 10 percent of the price breaks the state's contract rule.
Fence photos from Calabasas and nearby communities
Seven fencing scenes tied to Calabasas streets such as Westridge and The Oaks and to nearby places like Hidden Hills, Woodland Hills and Agoura Hills, from footings and hillside steps to gates and pool fences.
Where these Calabasas fence figures come from
Every fence price and its source is in the table on our fencing price page, and how general contractors use subcontractors explains who builds what. A fence often goes up with other work, and the Calabasas rules for it are on the roofing page, the painting page and the kitchen remodeling page. For cities with other height limits, read the fence guides for Santa Monica and West Hollywood.
| 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 |
Calabasas fence questions, answered
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Calabasas?
Often not for a land use permit, but check the lot. Municipal Code 17.20.100 and 17.02.020(B) exempt wood, wrought iron and chain link fences that meet the height limits, except inside the Scenic Corridor overlay, where a residential fence needs a minor scenic corridor permit. Oak encroachment rules still apply. We could not read the City's permit page.
How tall can a front yard fence be in Calabasas?
It is 42 inches at the front property line and rises 6 inches for every 2 feet back, reaching 6 feet at 10 feet from the line (Municipal Code 17.20.100(B)). Corner lots also keep a 42 inch height limit inside the traffic safety visibility area. Confirm where the line falls on your lot before ordering panels.
Can I put up a 7ft fence in Calabasas?
Not as of right. The 6 foot limit applies in side and rear setbacks, and the director may approve up to 25 percent more height as long as the average does not exceed 6 feet 6 inches, so a 7 foot run depends on that approval and the average height, or on a variance. The state's 7 foot permit-exempt line does not override local zoning.
How much does fence installation cost in Calabasas?
We found no Calabasas survey, so we use a Los Angeles range: about $25 to $55 a linear foot for a 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence, $12 to $30 for chain link and $35 to $85 for aluminum or iron, installed. Angi's Los Angeles page averages $3,051 a job. A measured written proposal is the real price.
How much should a 100 ft fence cost?
At the Los Angeles range of $25 to $55 a linear foot for a wood or vinyl privacy fence, 100 feet runs about $2,500 to $5,500 before gates, old fence removal or grade changes. Angi's Los Angeles page shows 100 feet at $2,100 to $2,350, so ask for each run and gate as separate lines.
Is chain link fencing allowed in Calabasas?
Check your zone first. Municipal Code 17.20.100(F) allows chain link in the OS, HM, RR, RC and CL zones, with screening and rear placement limits in RC and CL, but another section treats it as an exempt residential fence. Barbed wire and razor wire are banned everywhere. Ask Planning before using chain link on an RS lot.
Do I need a permit to build a block wall in Calabasas?
Possibly. Concrete and masonry walls under 42 inches are exempt from land use permits, and the state list exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet, but taller walls, grading that changes drainage and oak encroachments bring other permits. Block is masonry work for a licensed C-29 mason, not a C-13 fence contractor.
Can I build a retaining wall in Calabasas without a permit?
Only a low one. Municipal Code 17.02.020(B) exempts retaining walls holding back 36 inches of grade or less when no grading permit is needed and the wall meets section 17.20.100. A wall over 6 feet needs director approval, and front setback walls facing out are capped at 4 feet. Confirm with the City.
Can I install my own backyard fence?
Yes, within the rules, because a fence that meets the height limits is exempt from a land use permit on most lots. You still must respect the 6 foot limit, oak protected zones and any Scenic Corridor permit. Hiring help is different: CSLB bulletin 24-07 says the state's $1,000 limit on unlicensed work never applies when a worker is hired.
Describe your Calabasas fence project
Give us the address, say which yard the fence goes in and mention any oak trees near the line or a scenic road out front. We check the height and oak questions before we call back.