Fence Companyin Montebello, CA
A fence company in Montebello works to a 36 inch limit for solid fences in the required front yard and 6 feet behind it, with a 3 foot cap in designated viewshed areas. Wood and chain link fences up to 6 feet need no building permit, but masonry walls of 3 feet or more and retaining walls do.
Fences here wrap an unusual mix of homes. The Census Bureau's 2024 five-year estimates count 20,386 housing units in Montebello, and only 47.3 percent are single-family detached houses, while 42.1 percent sit in buildings of two or more units and 54.1 percent of households rent. With a median year built of 1963 and 84.1 percent of homes older than 1980, many boundary fences and walls predate the owner now asking about them, and the median owner-occupied value of $697,900 gives people reason to settle the line before building.
On a fence job, MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) works as general contractor: it measures, reads the zoning, files whatever needs a permit and books the crew, while a licensed fencing subcontractor sets the posts and block walls go to a licensed masonry specialist. Sourced prices are on our fencing page, and the Montebello overview lists the other trades. The rules start at the City's Planning Division, and nearby cities handle fences differently, as the guides for Whittier and Alhambra show.
What Montebello's zoning code and building code say about fences
Where fencing permits come from in Montebello: City of Montebello Planning and Community Development, Building and Safety Division.
- A building permit is not required for wooden or chain link fences not over 6 feet high or for masonry garden walls less than 3 feet high measured from the top of the footing, unless the wall supports a surcharge or impounds Class I, II or III-A liquids (MMC 15.04.020).
- In any R zone a wall, fence or hedge of 36 inches may stand on any part of a lot, and one up to 6 feet may stand anywhere behind the rear line of the required front yard (reversed corner lots excepted). Inside the required front yard only a wrought iron or similar decorative, non view-obscuring fence up to 6 feet is allowed, with the city planner approving sight distance, and chain link is not considered decorative (MMC 17.10.130.C).
- Fencing and screening visible from a public right-of-way must be decorative masonry (slumpstone, stucco, split-face), evergreen shrubs, wood of adequate quality with no plywood sheeting, decorative wrought iron, a protected electric fence, or another material the Planning Commission finds in keeping with the neighborhood. Corrugated or sheet metal, fiberglass and plastic cannot remain on a residential lot more than 120 days (MMC 17.10.130.D).
- The Fencing Standards exhibit says: on a front setback no view-obscuring fence, hedge or wall over 3 feet; in the corner line of sight area no fence, hedge or wall including retaining walls over 3 feet; behind the front setback nothing over 6 feet; where a retaining wall retains a fill, additional non view-obscuring fencing up to 42 inches may sit on top; and on a front setback where grade is above the sidewalk, no retaining wall over 3 feet with a non view-obscuring fence up to 42 inches on top (MMC 17.10.130, Exhibit 17.10.130).
- Corner and reversed corner lots keep a triangular vision area 15 feet from the corner along both lot lines in which no tree, fence, shrub, building or other obstruction may rise above 36 inches (MMC 17.50.040).
- In designated viewshed protection areas fences, walls, hedges and landscape may not exceed 3 feet, or 6 feet if made of non view-obscuring material, and anything taller needs a visual impact analysis (MMC 17.41.040.A, Ordinance 2483, October 8, 2025). The viewshed map was not readable here.
- A swimming pool or spa deeper than 24 inches (in-ground, above ground or on ground) needs a fence or solid barrier at least 5 feet high with no opening larger than 6 inches square except doors or gates, and gates must self-close and self-latch with the latch at least 4 feet above the bottom. Pool plans must show compliance, and final approval is held until it is met (MMC 15.04.090).
- The Plan Review page requires grading and drainage plans for retaining walls, and fills behind a retaining wall are limited by the Fencing Standards exhibit, so a retaining wall is not handled like a plain fence even where the fence itself is exempt.
How tall can a fence be in a Montebello front yard?
In any residential zone a wall, fence or hedge of 36 inches may stand on any part of a lot. Behind the rear line of the required front yard, which is 20 feet deep under the setback table, a fence may reach 6 feet. Inside the required front yard itself, only a wrought iron or similar decorative fence that does not block the view may rise to 6 feet, and the city planner approves its sight distance (MMC 17.10.130.C). Chain link is not treated as decorative, so it cannot be the front yard answer.
A solid cedar panel at the sidewalk is therefore out. The City's fencing exhibit puts it plainly: nothing that obscures the view may exceed 3 feet on a front setback. Where the yard sits above the sidewalk, a retaining wall in that setback stops at 3 feet, with a see-through fence of up to 42 inches allowed on top.
Hedges follow the same arithmetic. Shrubs and hedges in required yards stay at or under 36 inches under the landscaping section, so a tall privet along the front is a code problem, not just a fence one.
Measure from the property line, not the curb, and write the setback depth on the proposal so the fence height is a number.
Does fence installation in Montebello need a building permit?
Often no, within limits. Municipal Code 15.04.020 exempts wooden or chain link fences up to 6 feet high and masonry garden walls under 3 feet, measured from the top of the footing, unless the wall supports a surcharge or holds back certain liquids. That exemption is from the building code only. Zoning heights still apply, and where Title 15 and the zoning code conflict, the more restrictive one controls.
That answers the 7 foot question too. A 7 foot fence falls outside both the exempt list and the 6 foot limit behind the front yard, so it needs a planning answer first. Call Planning at 323-887-1478 and Building and Safety at 323-887-1497, which takes complete applications by email.
Appearance rules ride along. Anything visible from a public right-of-way must be decorative masonry, evergreen shrubs, quality wood with no plywood sheeting, decorative wrought iron or a material the Planning Commission accepts. Corrugated or sheet metal, fiberglass and plastic cannot stay on a residential lot more than 120 days. Work built without a permit that needed one pays a double fee.
What are the fence rules on a Montebello corner lot?
Corner and reversed corner lots keep a triangular vision area, 15 feet from the corner along both lot lines. Inside it nothing may rise above 36 inches, whether a tree, fence, shrub, building or retaining wall. A gate post, a decorative pilaster or a tall hedge counts as an obstruction just as much as the fence run.
The street side of a corner lot is also the side people see, so the visible-from-the-street material list applies there. A solid wood fence along the side street must be quality boards, not plywood, and chain link visible from the street is not on the approved material list, so ask Planning before you choose it.
Driveway gates raise the same question. Mechanical equipment, including pool pumphouses, must be screened and kept out of the front and street side yards unless it sits behind the setback lines, which matters when a gate operator or a pump enclosure is part of the plan.
What are the fence and retaining wall rules on a hillside or viewshed lot in Montebello?
Ordinance 2483, effective October 8, 2025, added a viewshed chapter that caps fences, walls, hedges and landscape at 3 feet in designated viewshed protection areas, or 6 feet if the material does not obscure the view. Anything taller needs a visual impact analysis (MMC 17.41.040.A). The area map is an image we could not read, so we name no street. If your lot is in the hills, ask Planning whether it falls inside one before you design a privacy fence.
Retaining walls are handled differently from fences. The Plan Review page asks for grading and drainage plans for retaining walls, and the fencing exhibit limits what may sit on top of one. Where a wall retains fill, see-through fencing up to 42 inches may be added above it.
Hillside lots add more. The City's Hillside Areas map is dated December 1, 1971, grading is barred from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on Sundays, and the rainy-season grading window runs November 15 to April 15. The County's sample of the landslide layer puts 5 of 232 points on the hillside edge, so a soils report is the only way to know a given lot.
What fence does a Montebello pool need?
A pool or spa deeper than 24 inches, in-ground, above ground or on the ground, needs a fence or solid barrier at least 5 feet high (MMC 15.04.090). No opening may be larger than 6 inches square except doors or gates, and gates must self-close and self-latch with the latch at least 4 feet above the bottom. Pool plans must show compliance, and final approval is held until the barrier is built.
State law adds a second layer. Health and Safety Code 115922 requires two drowning-prevention features when a permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool. We did not read the barrier section that sets state heights, so the 5 foot figure above is the City's own number and the inspector's reading is the one that counts.
Electric fences are not an option at home. The code allows them only to protect commercial or industrial property, behind a barrier at least 6 feet high and with the Planning Director's approval.
Who pays for a shared fence in Montebello?
California presumes neighbors split the cost of a boundary fence that benefits both lots. Civil Code 841 makes the presumption rebuttable and asks for 30 days' written notice before one owner spends money. Send the notice, keep a copy and attach the contractor's written estimate.
Before arguing over cost, settle the line. A fence that has stood since the 1950s may not sit on the recorded boundary, and stakes from a licensed land surveyor cost less than a dispute. In a city where 54.1 percent of households rent, the neighbor you write to may be a landlord or a management company, so address the owner on the tax record, not only the tenant.
If a neighbor builds something that looks over the limit, Code Enforcement takes complaints at 323-887-1490.
How much does fence installation cost in Montebello, and how do I hire a fence company?
No Montebello fence survey exists that we could find, so these are regional numbers. Angi's August 2026 Los Angeles page averages $3,051 a job, from $1,734 to $4,422. Weighing Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr together, installed wood or vinyl privacy fence runs about $25 to $55 a linear foot, chain link about $12 to $30 and aluminum or ornamental iron about $35 to $85, so a 100 foot backyard run lands near $2,500 to $5,500. Federal wage data puts fence erectors in the Los Angeles area at a mean of $28.00 an hour, a labor check and not a billing rate. Block walls have no independent per-foot source, so we print none.
Fencing is CSLB class C-13, which excludes masonry walls, and block walls belong to C-29 masonry. Our contractor license guide shows how to read the record, and the 36 inch front yard limit means the quote should state the fence height by yard, not just the footage.
Fence and gate photos from Montebello and nearby communities
Six fence scenes tied to Montebello streets and to nearby communities such as Pico Rivera and Rosemead, from decorative front yard iron to rear privacy runs and hillside steps.
Where the Montebello fence figures come from
Each per-foot range is built from named Los Angeles and national sources listed on our fencing price page, and permit fees are not in those numbers. Fences often go in after other exterior work, so see roof repair in Montebello and house painting in Montebello, and compare the rules in Los Angeles. How general contractors use subcontractors explains who answers for each part of the job.
| 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 Montebello
Montebello fence company and fence installation questions, answered
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Montebello?
Not for a wooden or chain link fence up to 6 feet, or a masonry garden wall under 3 feet, under MMC 15.04.020. Masonry walls of 3 feet or more, retaining walls and pool barriers are different, and zoning heights still apply. Call Building and Safety at 323-887-1497 with your lot's height and material before ordering.
How tall can my front fence be in Montebello?
Thirty-six inches for anything solid in the required front yard, which is 20 feet deep. A wrought iron or similar decorative fence that does not block the view may reach 6 feet there, with the city planner approving sight distance. Chain link does not count as decorative, and viewshed areas cap fences at 3 feet.
Can I put up a 7ft fence in Montebello?
Not as a standard residential fence. Six feet is the limit behind the front yard line and the top of the building permit exemption, so seven feet needs a planning answer. In a designated viewshed area the cap drops to 3 feet, or 6 feet if the material is see-through. Ask Planning at 323-887-1478.
What is the maximum height for a backyard fence in Montebello?
Six feet behind the rear line of the required front yard, under the City's fencing exhibit. Corner lots keep a 36 inch vision triangle 15 feet from the corner, and a retaining wall below the fence changes the total. In a designated viewshed area, anything over 3 feet needs a visual impact analysis.
Does my neighbor have to pay for half the fence in Montebello?
Usually, yes, as a presumption. California Civil Code 841 treats a boundary fence that benefits both owners as a shared cost, and asks for 30 days' written notice first. The presumption can be rebutted, so keep the notice and the written estimate. Have a surveyor stake the line if either owner doubts where it runs.
How much should a 100 ft fence cost in Montebello?
Our planning range for a 100 foot wood or vinyl privacy run is roughly $2,500 to $5,500, from Los Angeles and national sources, with chain link lower and iron higher. Angi's August 2026 Los Angeles page averages $3,051 a job. Montebello's front yard limits can change the material and the price.
Can I build a retaining wall without a permit in Montebello?
Do not assume so. The Montebello exemption list we read names only fences and small garden walls, and the Plan Review page asks for grading and drainage plans for retaining walls. The state model code exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet measured from the footing unless they carry a surcharge, but confirm which edition governs.
Is it cheaper to install a wood or vinyl fence?
The sources overlap too much to name a winner. Angi's national ranges run $10 to $45 a foot for wood and $15 to $40 for vinyl, while HomeGuide reads $20 to $50 and $30 to $60. In Montebello, neither solid material may stand in the required front yard, so price a see-through front and a solid rear.
Can I build a chain link fence in my Montebello yard?
Behind the front yard line, a chain link fence up to 6 feet is exempt from a building permit. In the required front yard it is not allowed, because the code does not call it decorative. Chain link visible from a street is not on the approved material list either, so corner lots need a planning answer.
What happens if I don't have a permit for a fence in Montebello?
Work that needed a permit and was built without one pays a double permit fee under MMC 15.04.120, and the City can require corrections. The City lists no fence-specific penalty on the pages we read. If your fence is exempt, the real exposure is a height or material violation reported to Code Enforcement.
Plan your fence project in Montebello
Tell us the street, how many feet you want to enclose and whether any run faces the front, a corner, a pool or a hillside, and we check the height limits for each run before we call back.