Fence Companyin Manhattan Beach, CA
A fence company in Manhattan Beach works inside two numbers: 6 feet in side and rear yards and 42 inches in front yards, measured from the lower neighboring grade. The City's code exempts fences up to 6 feet from a building permit, but zoning limits, overlays and coastal review can still apply, so check the address before ordering.
Manhattan Beach was laid out on dunes 50 to 70 feet high, and the lots the leveling left behind vary a great deal. The code's minimum single-family lot area is 7,500 square feet in Area District I, 4,600 in II and 2,700 in III, and side setbacks are 10 percent of lot width with a 3 foot minimum, so a fence beside the house may sit in a strip only a few feet wide. Of the city's 15,281 homes, 65.9 percent are detached houses, and 35.2 percent of occupied homes are rented, so a shared fence often involves a landlord and a neighbor.
On a fence job MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) is the general contractor: we confirm the line and the height rules, draw the layout and manage the schedule, and a licensed C-13 fencing subcontractor builds it, with a licensed mason for block. Our fencing page holds the sourced prices, the Manhattan Beach overview lists every trade, and neighboring cities differ, as the fence guides for Redondo Beach and Torrance show.
What Manhattan Beach's code says about fences
Where fencing permits come from in Manhattan Beach: City of Manhattan Beach Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division.
- The maximum height of a fence, wall or hedge is 6 feet in required side and rear yards and 42 inches in required front yards, measured from the lower adjacent finished grade (which can be a neighbor's or public grade) to the top including attachments; stacked fences and walls inside one yard are checked against a 45 degree daylight plane (Municipal Code 10.12.030(P)). Fences, walls and hedges also must meet driveway visibility (10.64.150) and the corner lot traffic vision rule (10.60.150, Chapter 3.40).
- Extra fence height above 6 feet is allowed only in three ways under 10.12.030(P): a safety railing the Building Official requires that is at least 75 percent open (total 11 feet), an inward-sloping top at 30 to 45 degrees from vertical (total 8 feet, not within 3 feet of a building), or written approval from every abutting owner (total 8 feet, and no more than 12 feet combined with neighboring retaining walls and fences). Architectural screen walls up to 6 feet 6 inches may stand in the front yard in Area Districts I and II if at least 14 feet back from the front lot line and no longer than half the lot width.
- Where a Coastal Development Permit is required for a fence, the extra height allowed by neighbor approval is tied to public views of the ocean, beach and shoreline (Municipal Code 10.12.030(P), which refers to the coastal permit sections). The GoCodebook text and the Zoneomics copy read differently on one word of this sentence, so read the official text before relying on it.
- Municipal Code 9.01.030 and 9.03.020 amend the state permit-exempt list so that fences not over 6 feet high need no building permit in Manhattan Beach (the state default is 7 feet). Zoning limits in 10.12.030(P) still apply, and the state list exempts retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top unless they support a surcharge (R105.2 as excerpted by Albany).
- Design Overlay subdistricts D1 (Rosecrans Avenue) and D4 (traffic noise impact areas) exist because higher fences in the front yard setback are needed to reduce traffic noise (Municipal Code 10.44.010); the heights are in the overlay schedule on the zoning map, which I did not read.
- A barbed wire fence, or any fence with a barbed wire portion, needs a written permit from the City Council, applied for through the City Clerk with a stated reason, and the Council can set conditions such as liability insurance (Municipal Code 9.20.010 to 9.20.030).
- Under California Civil Code 841, adjoining owners are presumed to share equally in the reasonable cost of building, maintaining or replacing a fence that divides their properties unless they agree otherwise in writing, and an owner planning to spend on it must give each affected neighbor written notice at least 30 days ahead with the problem, proposed fix, estimated costs, cost split and timeline. The presumption can be rebutted by showing equal sharing would be unjust.
- An accessory structure within the required rear yard may sit on a rear or interior side property line or at least 3 feet from it, and where a fence, wall or retaining wall is on that line the setback may be zero to 3 feet with zero clearance to the fence (Municipal Code 10.52.050(D)).
Sources for these rules
- gocodebook.com: chapter 10.12 residential districts
- zoneomics.com: chapter 2
- albanyca.gov: work exempt from permit 2025 cbc
- gocodebook.com: chapter 10.44 d design overlay district
- gocodebook.com: chapter 9.20 fences
- codes.findlaw.com: civ sect 841
- gocodebook.com: chapter 10.52 site regulations residential districts
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Manhattan Beach?
Not for a fence up to 6 feet tall. Municipal Code 9.01.030 and 9.03.020 amend the state's permit-exempt list so that fences not over 6 feet high need no building permit here, where the state default is 7 feet. Zoning limits still apply to an exempt fence. The same state list exempts a retaining wall of 4 feet or less, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, unless it supports a surcharge.
Two other items matter. A barbed wire fence, or any fence with a barbed wire section, needs a written permit from the City Council through the City Clerk, who asks for the reason, and the Council can add conditions such as liability insurance. And a permit-free fence is still licensed work above the state's $1,000 limit for unlicensed jobs, which also never applies when a worker is hired.
We read the code on the GoCodebook and Zoneomics mirrors because manhattanbeach.gov blocked our tools, and the text shows the 2022 code edition with the exempt list excerpted from the 2025 model code by another city. Confirm the 6 foot line with the Building Division through the City's permits and handouts page before you rely on it.
How tall can a fence be in a Manhattan Beach front, side or rear yard?
Six feet in the required side and rear yards and 42 inches in the required front yard. Municipal Code 10.12.030(P) measures the height from the lower of the adjacent finished grades, which can be a neighbor's grade or the public sidewalk, to the top of the fence including any lattice or post caps. Hedges are held to the same limits as fences and walls.
Stacked structures are checked together. A fence on top of a wall inside one yard is tested against a 45 degree daylight plane, so a fence on a retaining wall is not judged by its own height alone.
Visibility rules apply too. Fences, walls and hedges must keep driveways visible under Municipal Code 10.64.150 and meet the corner lot traffic vision rule in 10.60.150 and Chapter 3.40, which can lower the height near a street corner. Ask for a survey or site plan with the fence line drawn before posts go in.
Can I build a fence taller than 6 feet in Manhattan Beach?
Only in three ways, and each caps the total height. Under 10.12.030(P) the first is a safety railing the Building Official requires, at least 75 percent open, up to 11 feet in total. The second is a top that slopes inward at 30 to 45 degrees from vertical, up to 8 feet in total and not within 3 feet of a building. The third is written approval from every abutting owner, up to 8 feet in total and no more than 12 feet when combined with neighboring retaining walls and fences.
Front yards have a narrow exception. In Area Districts I and II an architectural screen wall up to 6 feet 6 inches can stand in the front yard if it sits at least 14 feet back from the front lot line and runs no more than half the lot width. Where a Coastal Development Permit is required for a fence, the height allowed by neighbor approval is tied to public views of the ocean, beach and shoreline. The two code mirrors we read differ by one word in that sentence, so read the official text before relying on it.
Neighbor approval has to be in writing and from every abutting owner, so collect the signatures before you order the panels.
Do design overlay or coastal rules change the fence rules in Manhattan Beach?
They can, lot by lot. Design Overlay subdistricts D1, along Rosecrans Avenue, and D4, in traffic noise areas, exist so that higher fences can stand in the front yard setback to cut road noise (Municipal Code 10.44.010). The heights sit in the overlay schedule on the zoning map, which we did not read, so we cannot print them. D3, the Gaslamp neighborhood, carries special design standards and review, and D7 covers Longfellow Drive, Ronda Drive, Terraza Place, Duncan Drive and Kuhn Drive.
The coast adds a second question. About 15 percent of our 114 sample points sat inside the Caltrans Coastal Zone boundary on the western edge by the beach, and work there may need a coastal review, with The Strand in the appealable area. We could not read the exemptions, so ask Planning whether a fence at your address needs coastal review before you design it. Which parcels carry an overlay is on the City's zoning map, not in the code text.
Who pays for a shared fence in Manhattan Beach, and where is the property line?
Both owners, in equal shares, unless they agree otherwise in writing. California Civil Code 841 presumes that adjoining owners split the reasonable cost of building, maintaining or replacing a fence on the boundary, and an owner who plans to spend money must give each affected neighbor written notice at least 30 days ahead, with the problem, the proposed fix, the estimated cost, the split and the timeline. A neighbor can rebut the presumption by showing that an equal split would be unjust.
Know the line before sending the notice. Narrow lots, side setbacks as small as 3 feet and a height measured from the lower neighboring grade make a survey worth the fee. Municipal Code 10.52.050(D) lets an accessory structure in the rear yard sit on a rear or interior side line, or at least 3 feet from it, and where a fence or wall stands on that line the setback may be zero to 3 feet.
What fence does a swimming pool need in Manhattan Beach?
We could not confirm the City's pool barrier rule. Municipal Code 10.52.050(G) sends readers to 'Title 9, Chapter 48' for pool fencing, but no such chapter appears in the Title 9 contents on GoCodebook, so the cross reference looks stale. The same section allows a pool or hot tub in a side or rear yard but not within 5 feet of a property line.
California's Health and Safety Code 115922 requires two of seven drowning-prevention features when a permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool, and the barrier must meet section 115923. We did not read 115923, so we print no barrier height. Ask the Building Division for its pool barrier handout, and write the gate, latch and any alarm into the bid as separate lines.
How much does fence installation cost in Manhattan Beach, and how do I choose a fence company?
We found no Manhattan Beach price survey, so these are Los Angeles figures with a method. Our range draws on four public sources, Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr, and lands near $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. A 100 foot backyard run is therefore about $2,500 to $5,500. Angi's Los Angeles page, updated August 4, 2026, shows an average job of $3,051, and the federal wage survey for May 2025 puts fence erectors in the Los Angeles area at a mean $28.00 an hour.
A fence is CSLB class C-13, which excludes masonry walls; block walls fall under C-29 Masonry. Wood that touches soil is a termite question, since UC Integrated Pest Management says drywood termites are most common in Southern California and infest fences, so ask about termite-resistant wood or concrete footers. Look up the license with our contractor license guide, and note that under Business and Professions Code 7159 a down payment is capped at $1,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less.
Fence photos from Manhattan Beach and nearby communities
Seven fencing scenes tied to Manhattan Beach streets and to nearby places such as El Segundo, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, from footings and slat panels to gates and pool fences.
Where these Manhattan Beach fence figures come from
Each 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 Manhattan Beach rules for it are on the roofing page, the painting page and the kitchen remodeling page. For cities with different height rules, read the fence guides for Hawthorne 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 Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach fence questions, answered
Do I need a permit for fence installation in Manhattan Beach?
Not for a fence up to 6 feet. Municipal Code 9.01.030 and 9.03.020 exempt fences not over 6 feet from a building permit, one foot lower than the state default of 7, and zoning limits still apply. Barbed wire needs a written City Council permit, and a retaining wall over 4 feet falls outside the state exemption. Confirm with the Building Division.
What is the maximum height for a backyard fence in Manhattan Beach?
Six feet in a required side or rear yard, measured from the lower adjacent finished grade to the top of the fence including attachments (Municipal Code 10.12.030(P)). Front yards are limited to 42 inches. Extra height is possible only with a required safety railing, an inward-sloping top or written approval from every abutting owner, and coastal lots may add a public view test.
Can I put up a 7ft fence in Manhattan Beach?
Only through one of the three exceptions. Seven feet is above the 6 foot limit, so it needs a required safety railing at least 75 percent open, an inward-sloping top at 30 to 45 degrees, or written approval from every abutting owner, which allows up to 8 feet in total. The overlay and coastal questions still apply to your address.
How much does fence installation cost in Manhattan Beach?
We found no Manhattan Beach survey, so we use a Los Angeles range: roughly $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 puts the average job at $3,051. A written, measured proposal is the real price.
How much does 200 ft of fencing cost?
At the Los Angeles range of $25 to $55 a linear foot for a wood or vinyl privacy fence, 200 feet runs roughly $5,000 to $11,000, before gates, old fence removal or grade changes. HomeGuide's national range for 200 feet is $4,000 to $12,000. Ask for each gate and each run as separate lines.
Can I install my own backyard fence?
Yes, with limits. A fence up to 6 feet needs no building permit here, but zoning height and setback rules still apply, and Civil Code 841 asks for 30 days' written notice before you spend money on a shared fence. An owner-builder exception exists in Municipal Code 9.04.010 for permitted work if you meet Business and Professions Code 7044.
What are the new fence rules in California in 2026?
We could not confirm a new statewide fence height rule. A proposed ember-resistant zone near homes showed conflicting status in the sources we read, so we do not rely on it, and Manhattan Beach's height limits come from its own code. One 2026 change we did read is in contract law: Business and Professions Code 7159 was amended effective January 1, 2026.
Who pays for a fence between two houses?
Both owners, in equal shares, unless they agree otherwise in writing. California Civil Code 841 presumes equal sharing of the reasonable cost of a boundary fence and requires written notice to each affected neighbor at least 30 days before an owner spends money on it. The presumption can be rebutted if an equal split would be unjust.
Can you build a fence on top of a retaining wall in Manhattan Beach?
Yes, but the combined height is checked. Stacked fences and walls inside one yard are tested against a 45 degree daylight plane, and with neighbor approval the total of a fence plus neighboring retaining walls and fences may not exceed 12 feet. A retaining wall of 4 feet or less is on the state exempt list unless it supports a surcharge.
Describe your Manhattan Beach fence project
Give us the address, the yard where the fence will go and whether a neighbor shares the line. We check the height and overlay questions with the City before we call back.