Fence Companyin Monrovia, CA
Fence installation in Monrovia needs a building permit for anything over 3 feet, far below the state's 7 foot exemption, even though zoning allows 6 feet on side and rear lines. The front setback caps a fence at 4 feet, and fences within 10 feet of a house in the Very High fire zone must be noncombustible.
A fence in Monrovia is a building code question before it is a zoning question, and that surprises owners. The state model code lets a fence up to 7 feet go up without a permit, while Monrovia's amendment stops the exemption at 3 feet. Zoning separately allows screening up to 6 feet along side and rear lines. Between those two numbers sits a great deal of ordinary backyard fence that needs a building permit even though the planning rules welcome it.
The housing stock explains why owners guard the line. The Census Bureau's 2024 five-year estimates, read on Census Reporter, put the median owner-occupied home value at $909,400, and the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group counts more than 2,500 homes built before 1940, many on lots with old walls, hedges and iron that predate any current rule. On a fence job MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) reads the code for your lot, writes the scope, handles any permit and schedules the crew, and a licensed fencing subcontractor builds. Our fencing price page holds the sourced cost table, the Monrovia overview lists the other trades, and nearby fence guides cover Arcadia and Azusa.
What Monrovia's building, zoning and fire codes say about fences
Where fencing permits come from in Monrovia: City of Monrovia Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division.
- Monrovia's residential fence rule (Municipal Code 17.12.040(B)) allows screening up to 6 feet on all property lines except the required front setback, where a fence is limited to 4 feet and a hedge or wall to 3 feet. On a corner lot within 5 feet of the street side property line the same 4 foot fence and 3 foot hedge or wall limits apply, and the fence must sit 5 feet back from the front of the house.
- In Monrovia a fence over 6 feet is treated like the main dwelling for setback purposes, and a fence of 6 feet or more next to a public street must be screened with landscaping under a city approved plan (Municipal Code 17.12.040(B)(1)(d) and (e)). Wrought iron without points or spikes may reach 8 feet along rear and side lines enclosing a backyard on hillside lots backing onto unimproved wilderness.
- Monrovia lists masonry, wood of adequate quality and durability, wrought iron and other materials the committee approves as fence materials. Wrought iron bars may not be spaced over 6 inches apart, bar ends may not be pointed or spiked north of Foothill Boulevard or east of Mountain Avenue above Lemon Avenue, and chain link is allowed only on single-family property along side and rear lines, not in the front setback or next to a street (17.12.040(B)(3)).
- Monrovia's building code makes only fences not over 3 feet high exempt from permits (Municipal Code 15.04.070, amending Section 301.2.1), well below the 7 foot state model limit, and exempts retaining walls only up to 2 feet measured from the bottom of the footing unless they support a surcharge. The chapter text shows the item numbers inconsistently, so confirm the exemption with the Building Division before building a taller fence.
- Fences and walls are exempt from Monrovia's neighborhood compatibility design review (17.12.005(G)(6)), and nothing higher than 3 feet above grade may stand in the triangular corner sight area at intersections (17.12.040(G) and 17.16.030). In the RF zone a retaining wall that extends a pad next to slopes may not exceed 3 feet unless a building screens it (17.12.010(E)(3)).
- In the Very High fire hazard zone, Monrovia's Fire Code amendment (Municipal Code 15.20.270, WUI Code 604.3.1) requires fences within 10 feet of a structure to be noncombustible.
- For a potential historic landmark or district, Municipal Code 17.40.110(C)(3) lists fencing as an exception handled by the Department rather than the Historic Preservation Commission.
- CSLB defines the C-13 Fencing classification as building, installing, modifying or repairing fences, corrals, animal runs, railings, guard rails, barriers, posts, flagpoles and gates, and it excludes masonry walls.
Does fence installation in Monrovia need a building permit?
For anything over 3 feet, plan on yes. Monrovia's Municipal Code 15.04.070, which amends the state list of permit exempt work, exempts only fences not over 3 feet high, and retaining walls only up to 2 feet measured from the bottom of the footing unless they carry a surcharge. The state model list allows 7 feet, so a fence builder from another city may quote from the wrong rule.
A permit also has a clock. Under 15.04.100 it becomes invalid if work does not start within 12 months of issue or stops for 12 months, and the Building Official can extend it in writing by up to 180 days at a time. Work started without a permit costs an investigation fee equal to the permit fee, on top of the permit fee, under 15.04.120. Fees are set by council resolution and the code gives no dollar amounts, so we print none.
We read the chapter on GoCodebook, a third-party mirror, and the item numbers in the exemption list print inconsistently, so confirm the 3 foot line with the Building and Safety Division before you build taller. The City's own pages blocked our tools, so we read no permit handout.
How tall can a fence be in a Monrovia front yard, side yard or corner lot?
Zoning sets different limits by position. Municipal Code 17.12.040(B) allows screening up to 6 feet on every property line except the required front setback, where a fence is limited to 4 feet and a hedge or wall to 3 feet. A 4 foot front fence is therefore allowed by zoning and still needs a building permit under the 3 foot rule above.
Corner lots follow a tighter pattern. Within 5 feet of the street side property line the same 4 foot fence and 3 foot hedge or wall limits apply, and the fence must sit 5 feet back from the front of the house. A fence over 6 feet is treated like the main dwelling for setbacks, and a fence of 6 feet or more beside a public street must be screened by landscaping under a city approved plan. Nothing higher than 3 feet above grade may stand in the triangular sight area at an intersection.
Zoning height and the building permit are two separate checks, and a fence can pass one and fail the other.
What fence rules apply in the foothills and the Very High fire zone?
Two rules tighten foothill lots. In the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the Fire Code amendment in Municipal Code 15.20.270 requires any fence within 10 feet of a structure to be noncombustible, so a wood fence attached to a house is a problem there. The same section sets defensible space of 30 feet in the Moderate zone, 100 in the High zone and 200 in the Very High zone, and MonroviaNow reported 1,481 properties in the Very High zone, almost all near the mountains, after the July 1, 2025 map update.
Slopes bring the second. Wrought iron without points or spikes may reach 8 feet along rear and side lines that enclose a backyard on hillside lots backing onto unimproved wilderness. A Hillside Development permit applies to earth movement with 5 feet or more of cut or fill or a retaining wall 6 feet or taller, and in the RF zone a retaining wall that extends a pad beside a slope may not exceed 3 feet unless a building screens it.
A fence on top of a wall is where owners get caught, because the wall and fence exemptions are measured separately in the text we read. Ask the Building Division whether the combined height is reviewed, and confirm your parcel's zone with the Fire Department, whose page blocked our tools.
Which fence materials does Monrovia allow: wrought iron, chain link, wood or block?
The materials list in 17.12.040(B)(3) names masonry, wood of adequate quality and durability, wrought iron and other materials the committee approves. Wrought iron bars may not be spaced more than 6 inches apart, and bar ends may not be pointed or spiked north of Foothill Boulevard or east of Mountain Avenue above Lemon Avenue. Chain link is allowed only on single-family property along side and rear lines, never in the front setback or beside a street.
Block walls belong to a different trade. CSLB's C-13 fencing class excludes masonry walls, which fall under class C-29, so a block wall needs a masonry subcontractor. Wood is the common backyard choice, and the University of California's pest program says drywood termites are most prevalent in southern California and infest fences, so ask about termite resistant wood or concrete footers where wood meets soil.
What does a Monrovia pool fence have to look like?
Chapter 15.16 of the Municipal Code is the pool barrier chapter, and section 15.16.060 sets the numbers. The barrier must be at least 5 feet above grade measured on the side away from the pool, with no more than 2 inches between grade and the bottom of the barrier. Pedestrian gates must open outward, self close and self latch, with the latch at least 4 feet 6 inches above grade.
The chapter also requires alarms on doors from the dwelling to the pool area and bars barriers or gates across a driveway. It cites an older ordinance, 93-28, so ask the Building Division whether newer state pool safety rules add a detail before the pool builder and the fence crew each work from their own page. Zoning adds that a swimming pool may not sit in the front yard and must stand at least 5 feet from side and rear lines.
Who pays for a shared fence in Monrovia, and does a landmark change the answer?
California Civil Code 841 presumes that neighbors share the reasonable cost of a fence on their common line equally, unless they agreed otherwise, and a neighbor can try to rebut that. Before you spend money, send each affected neighbor 30 days' written notice describing the problem, the repair, the estimate and your proposed split, and keep proof of delivery. On older blocks, confirm the boundary before posts go in, because a survey costs less than moving a fence.
Landmarks add a different review. A designated landmark or district property needs a certificate of appropriateness for alterations under Municipal Code 17.40.090, and for a potential landmark or district section 17.40.110(C)(3) lists fencing among the items the Department handles instead of the Historic Preservation Commission. Monrovia has 169 landmarks, the Wild Rose Tract and North Encinitas districts, and properties 70 years old are Historic Review Sites, so call Planning before ordering a front fence for an older house.
How much does fence installation cost in Monrovia, and how do I pick a fence company?
No Monrovia fence survey turned up, so this page prints no Monrovia price. For planning, four Los Angeles sources, Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr, put a 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence at $25 to $55 per linear foot, chain link at $12 to $30 and aluminum or ornamental iron at $35 to $85, with a 100 foot backyard run at roughly $2,500 to $5,500. Block walls, hillside lots and gate openers have no independent price, so the written proposal sets them.
Check the license first: fencing is class C-13, and a job that needs a permit is never covered by the $1,000 unlicensed limit. Our license checking guide and the piece on how general contractors use subcontractors explain the lookup and who answers for what. Put these questions to every bidder:
- Which license number, and does the CSLB record match?
- Who files the permit when the fence is over 3 feet?
- If the fence is within 10 feet of a house in the Very High zone, is it noncombustible?
- Does the contract follow Business and Professions Code 7159, with the down payment capped at $1,000 or 10 percent?
- Does the scope list footage, height, gates and removal of the old fence?
Fence and gate photos from Monrovia and nearby communities
Fence scenes tied to Old Town Monrovia, the older blocks near Library Park and the foothill streets, covering wood, iron and block work, plus nearby communities such as Bradbury and Duarte.
Where these Monrovia fence figures come from
Each per-foot range is listed with its source on the fencing cost page, and permit fees are not included in them. The sources disagree at the low end, so treat the numbers as a planning range and ask for a measured written proposal. A new fence often follows other exterior work, so see the Monrovia roofing page and painting page, and compare the nearby fence rules for Pasadena, El Monte and Arcadia.
| 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 |
Monrovia fence questions, answered
How much should a 100 ft fence cost?
Use the Los Angeles ranges: a 100 foot backyard run of wood or vinyl privacy fence is roughly $2,500 to $5,500, from $25 to $55 per linear foot according to Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr. Gates, removal of the old fence and any permit are extra. Monrovia has no published fence survey, so a measured proposal sets the price.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Monrovia?
Yes if it is over 3 feet. Monrovia's Municipal Code 15.04.070 exempts only fences not over 3 feet, well below the 7 feet in the state model list. Zoning heights are a separate check. The exemption list prints inconsistently in the text we read, so confirm the line with the Building Division before building.
How tall can my front fence be?
In Monrovia's front setback a fence is limited to 4 feet and a hedge or wall to 3 feet, under Municipal Code 17.12.040(B). Elsewhere on the lot, screening can reach 6 feet. Anything over 3 feet also needs a building permit under 15.04.070, so zoning and the building permit are separate checks.
Can I put up a 7ft fence?
Not as a simple backyard job in Monrovia. Zoning allows screening up to 6 feet on side and rear lines, and a fence over 6 feet is treated like the main dwelling for setbacks. Anything over 3 feet needs a building permit, so a 7 foot fence needs the permit and a setback check. Hillside wrought iron is the 8 foot exception.
Does my neighbor have to pay for half the fence in California?
Usually the law presumes so. Under Civil Code 841, neighbors on a shared line split the reasonable cost of a fence equally unless they agreed otherwise, though a neighbor can rebut that. You must give 30 days' written notice before spending. Skipping the notice leaves the cost sharing in doubt.
What happens if I don't have a permit for a fence?
In Monrovia, work started without a permit costs an investigation fee equal to the permit fee, in addition to the permit fee, under Municipal Code 15.04.120. We could not read a penalty schedule beyond that. Build to the limits above, keep approvals in writing, and ask the Building Division what enforcement applies to your fence.
Is it cheaper to install a wood or vinyl fence?
Wood's low end is usually a little below vinyl's in the sources, but the ranges overlap heavily. Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr put wood and vinyl privacy fences together at about $25 to $55 per linear foot in Los Angeles, with chain link lower at $12 to $30. Ask about termite resistant wood if you choose wood.
Can you install fences on hillsides or steep slopes?
Yes, with extra checks. Monrovia requires a Hillside Development permit for earth movement with 5 feet or more of cut or fill or a retaining wall 6 feet or taller, and caps a pad extension wall in the RF zone at 3 feet unless a building screens it. Ask the contractor to describe post depth and footings in the scope.
How long does a fence installation take?
We found no sourced Monrovia figure, so we will not give one. The sequence sets the schedule: a permit if the fence is over 3 feet, 30 days of neighbor notice where cost sharing applies, then posts, concrete and panels. Ask for start and completion dates in the written contract, which Business and Professions Code 7159 requires.
How do I choose a fence contractor?
Look up the CSLB record first. Fencing is class C-13, which leaves out masonry walls, so a block wall needs a masonry license. Ask for a contract that meets Business and Professions Code 7159, proof of insurance, and who will file the permit and send the neighbor notice. A permitted job is never unlicensed work.
Plan your fence project in Monrovia
Tell us the length you want to enclose, the height, and whether the fence is in a front yard, on a hillside, beside a pool or within 10 feet of the house. We check the permit line and the fire zone before we call.