Fence Companyin Hermosa Beach, CA
A fence company in Hermosa Beach works to a tight rule set: fences stop at 42 inches on most of a lot, reach 6 feet only behind the required front yard, and need a building permit at 42 inches or more. Walk street and Strand encroachments are capped at 42 inches. Chain link and plain gray block are banned.
Fences matter more on a small lot, and Hermosa Beach is made of them. The Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates count 4,809 detached houses among 10,385 housing units, 49.4 percent of occupied homes are rented, and a 2016 Coastal Commission report describes a lot on The Strand of only 2,250 square feet. The Sand Section walk streets and The Strand frontage add a layer, because some fences there stand in encroachment areas of the public right of way and not on the lot.
On a fence job MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) measures the lot, asks the City which permits apply and schedules the crews, and licensed subcontractors build the work: a C-13 fencing contractor for wood, vinyl and metal, and a masonry contractor for block. Prices with their sources are on our fencing page, the rest of our trades are on the Hermosa Beach overview, and next-door cities set their own limits, as the guides for Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach show.
What Hermosa Beach's Municipal Code says about fences and walls
Where fencing permits come from in Hermosa Beach: City of Hermosa Beach Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division.
- Fence height in Hermosa Beach (17.46.130): a wall, fence or hedge 42 inches high may stand on any part of a lot, and one up to 6 feet high may stand anywhere to the rear of the rear line of the required front yard. On a corner lot, a fence higher than 42 inches may run only from the rear lot line to the rear line of the required side yard on the side street line, and on a reversed corner lot it may not stand closer to the side street than the depth of the required front yard on the lot behind.
- Hermosa Beach's fence permit trigger is lower than the state's: 17.46.130 says no fence or wall 42 inches or greater in height may be built without first obtaining a building permit. The state exempt list (R105.2, Albany copy) exempts fences up to 7 feet, so the local 42 inch rule is the one that matters for a taller fence, and zoning review applies on top.
- Fence materials and limits (17.46.130): walls and fences, including the visible face of retaining walls, must use an aesthetically pleasing material approved by the planning director (examples include split-face or textured masonry, stucco or paint finish, wrought iron or simulated wrought iron, brick and wood), plain gray untreated block and chain link are prohibited (slatted chain link may be approved only in commercial or manufacturing zones), and razor wire, barbed wire and broken glass may never be added to a fence, wall or hedge.
- On a corner lot a triangular vision area with 10 foot legs measured from the corner of the front and side lot lines must stay clear of any tree, fence, shrub or other obstruction higher than 36 inches above curb grade (17.46.060), except structures that begin 8 feet or more above curb grade.
- Where a retaining wall holds back a cut on a property line, a fence on top may be as high as would be allowed if there were no retaining wall; where it holds back fill, the retaining wall height counts toward the fence height and a protective open-work fence of no more than 42 inches may sit on top. An open-work fence means no more than 60 percent solid surface (17.46.130). Guard railings, open-work fences or hedges up to 42 inches may stand in a front or side yard if they do not block a pedestrian way (17.46.120).
- On public-right-of-way encroachment areas on walk streets, 12.16.080 caps fences at 42 inches, allows a 42 inch fence on top of a masonry, block, brick or concrete retaining wall measured from natural grade, and says a retaining wall in the right of way cannot support any structure on private property; the vehicular street rule also caps fences at 42 inches. An encroachment permit is required for any landscaping above 42 inches and for any structure or use that encroaches on a right of way (12.16.020).
- An encroachment permit in Hermosa Beach is a privilege, not a right: 12.16.020 says issuance is within the City's sole discretion, creates no vested rights and is not a substitute for a building permit, and 12.16.030 doubles the permit fee and makes failure to stop a misdemeanor when work starts without the permit. Only the owner of record can apply for a residential encroachment (12.16.050).
- A February 12, 2026 Easy Reader article reports that the walk streets run from 3rd Street to 21st Street in the Sand Section plus 30th and 31st Streets, that homeowners there have long been allowed to enclose city property in front of their homes with a low wall about 20 feet deep for a one-time $1,590 fee, and that in December 2025 the Coastal Commission put a five-year review limit on one 18th Street walk street encroachment and barred changes (including repairs and maintenance) without Commission approval. These are newspaper reports of an encroachment fee and one Commission decision, not City text.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Hermosa Beach?
Yes once the fence reaches 42 inches. Municipal Code 17.46.130 says no fence or wall 42 inches or greater in height may be built without first obtaining a building permit. The state's model exempt list is looser and covers fences up to 7 feet, so the local number is the one that counts for a taller fence, and zoning review applies on top. Because the City's site would not load for us, the code language here comes from the GoCodebook mirror, so a quick check with Building and Safety is wise.
A contractor needs a Hermosa Beach business license before a building permit issues, and the general contractor must give the license collector a list of subcontractors before inspection of their work (5.04.200). Permits expire as well: the start window cannot be set longer than 12 months and the finish window no longer than 4 years (15.02.060). We found no fee we can state, so we print none.
Get the permit answer in writing before the fence company orders materials.
How tall can a fence be in Hermosa Beach?
Hermosa Beach keeps fences low in front and lets them rise toward the back. An open-work fence means one that is no more than 60 percent solid surface. Municipal Code 17.46.120 and 17.46.130 set these limits:
- Anywhere on the lot: a wall, fence or hedge up to 42 inches
- Behind the rear line of the required front yard: up to 6 feet
- Front or side yard: guard railings, open-work fences or hedges up to 42 inches, if they do not block a pedestrian way
- Corner lot: a fence over 42 inches may run only from the rear lot line to the rear line of the required side yard on the side street line
A 7 foot fence is not in the code text we read, so plan on 6 feet as the ceiling.
What are the fence rules on Hermosa Beach walk streets and The Strand?
Fences in a right of way encroachment area are capped at 42 inches. Municipal Code 12.16.080 caps fences in walk street encroachment areas at that height, allows a 42 inch fence on top of a masonry, block, brick or concrete retaining wall measured from natural grade, and says a retaining wall in the right of way cannot support any structure on private property. An encroachment permit is required for landscaping above 42 inches and for any structure or use in a right of way (12.16.020).
That permit is a privilege, not a right. Issuance is in the City's sole discretion, it creates no vested rights and it does not replace a building permit, and starting work without one doubles the fee and makes failure to stop a misdemeanor (12.16.030). Only the owner of record can apply (12.16.050). A February 2026 Easy Reader article reports that the walk streets run from 3rd to 21st Streets in the Sand Section plus 30th and 31st, and that in December 2025 the Coastal Commission put a five year review limit on one 18th Street encroachment and barred changes, repairs included, without its approval. That is a newspaper's account of one decision, not City text.
Is chain link allowed in Hermosa Beach, and what can a fence be made of?
Chain link is prohibited, and so is plain gray untreated block. Section 17.46.130 asks walls and fences, including the visible face of retaining walls, to use an aesthetically pleasing material approved by the planning director, with split-face or textured masonry, stucco or paint finish, wrought iron or simulated wrought iron, brick and wood as examples. Slatted chain link may be approved only in commercial or manufacturing zones, and razor wire, barbed wire and broken glass may never be added to a fence, wall or hedge.
Retaining walls follow their own logic. Where a wall holds back a cut on a property line, a fence on top may be as high as the code would allow with no wall. Where it holds back fill, the wall's height counts toward the fence height and only an open-work fence of 42 inches or less may sit on top. Ask the fence company which case your lot is before the footings go in.
How do corner lots and property lines change a fence in Hermosa Beach?
A corner lot keeps a clear zone at the corner. Under 17.46.060 a triangle with 10 foot legs, measured from the corner of the front and side lot lines, must stay free of any tree, fence, shrub or other obstruction higher than 36 inches above curb grade, except structures that begin 8 feet or more above the curb. A reversed corner lot has its own limit, tied to the depth of the required front yard on the lot behind it.
Small lots make a survey worth its price. Section 17.08.040 has special standards for lots of 2,100 square feet or less, so a few inches of error is a real share of the yard. Work that may affect adjoining property, such as shoring or demolition, triggers a written notice at least 5 days ahead to every owner and occupant within 100 feet (CBC 3307.5 and CRC R3307.5), and the City will not enforce private repair agreements between neighbors. Put any agreement in writing yourself.
Does a Hermosa Beach fence need Coastal Commission or historic review?
It can, depending on the address. Development in the Coastal Zone needs a Coastal Clearance and a Commission approval, waiver or exemption before the permit issues (17.78), and the code does not say whether fences qualify for an exemption. Our map sample put 44 of 92 points, or 47.8 percent, inside the zone on the western half of the city, and Hermosa Beach has no certified Local Coastal Program, so the question belongs to each address.
Historic review is separate. The Preservation Ordinance (17.53) requires a Certificate of Appropriateness to alter a designated landmark and counts walls, fences and gates among its improvements, so a new gate on a landmark needs that approval even when nothing else does. We did not open the register of landmarks, so ask Planning whether the house is on it.
How much does fence installation cost, and how do I choose a fence company?
No Hermosa Beach price survey turned up, so we use Los Angeles sources. Angi's August 4, 2026 page for the city shows $15 to $60 a foot, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr overlap it, and the federal wage survey for May 2025 gives the Los Angeles area fence erector a mean of $28.00 an hour. Our working ranges are $25 to $55 per linear foot installed for a 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence, $35 to $85 for aluminum or ornamental iron and about $2,500 to $5,500 for a 100 foot run. Block walls get no price from us, since no independent source backs a figure.
CSLB class C-13 covers fencing but excludes masonry walls, which belong to a masonry contractor. Our contractor license guide shows how to verify a license, and how general contractors use subcontractors explains who answers for what. Business and Professions Code 7159.5 limits a down payment to $1,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less.
Fence photos from Hermosa Beach and nearby communities
Seven fencing scenes tied to Hermosa Beach blocks and to nearby places such as Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Lawndale, from low front fences to taller backyard runs and block walls.
Where these Hermosa Beach fence figures come from
The table on our fencing price page lists every fence price beside its source. A new fence often goes up with other work, and the Hermosa Beach rules for it are on the roofing page, the painting page and the kitchen remodeling page. For other South Bay cities to compare, read the fencing guides for Torrance and El Segundo.
| 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 Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach fence questions, answered
How much does it cost to have 100 feet of fence installed?
Plan on about $2,500 to $5,500 for 100 feet of 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence, our synthesis of Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr for Los Angeles. Angi's Los Angeles page alone shows $2,100 to $2,350. Gates, old fence removal and block walls change that, and a written proposal is the real price.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Hermosa Beach?
Yes, once it is 42 inches or taller. Municipal Code 17.46.130 requires a building permit before any fence or wall of 42 inches or more is built, and a fence in a right of way also needs an encroachment permit. Below 42 inches the height and material rules still apply.
Can I put up a 7 foot fence?
Not under the code text we read, which stops at 6 feet. A fence up to 6 feet may stand behind the rear line of the required front yard, and 42 inches is the limit elsewhere on the lot. Relief for a taller fence would come from Planning, which we did not research.
Can I put a privacy fence up in my front yard?
No, not a solid one. Anywhere on the lot a fence may be 42 inches high, and a guard railing, open-work fence or hedge up to 42 inches may stand in a front or side yard if it does not block a pedestrian way. Taller fences start behind the rear line of the required front yard.
What happens if I don't have a permit for a fence?
The City can cite the work and order it opened and corrected. Municipal Code 15.02.040 lets the Building Official order concealed work exposed and every necessary correction made, and an encroachment started without a permit doubles the fee and makes failure to stop a misdemeanor.
Can I get a permit after work is done?
Possibly, but it is a poor plan. The code lets the Building Official order concealed work opened for inspection and all corrections made, and we found nothing promising approval after the fact. A fence that breaks the 42 inch or material rules may have to come down. Ask Building and Safety before the first post.
Is it cheaper to install a wood or vinyl fence?
Wood starts cheaper, but the ranges overlap: on Angi's national page, updated October 13, 2026, wood runs $10 to $45 a foot and vinyl $15 to $40. Hermosa Beach names wood as an acceptable material but not vinyl, so ask Planning to approve vinyl before you order it.
What is the maximum height for hedges in Hermosa Beach?
Hedges follow the fence heights. Municipal Code 17.46.130 treats a wall, fence or hedge alike: 42 inches on any part of the lot and up to 6 feet behind the rear line of the required front yard. On a corner, nothing over 36 inches above the curb may stand in the vision triangle.
What is the maximum height of a retaining wall without a permit?
The state's model list has exempted retaining walls up to 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing, unless they carry a surcharge. We found no separate Hermosa Beach height, but a wall that holds back fill counts toward the fence height on top, so confirm the scope with Building and Safety.
Who owns a fence on the property line?
A survey answers it. We found no Hermosa Beach rule that assigns ownership of a boundary fence, and we left out the state's cost sharing statute because we could not read its text. A licensed surveyor can mark the line, and a written agreement with the neighbor settles who builds and who pays.
Get a fence plan for your Hermosa Beach lot
Tell us the street, whether the fence is front, side or rear and whether the lot is a corner, a walk street or near the beach. We check the 42 inch rules and the coastal questions before we call you back.