Fence Companyin Redlands, CA
A Redlands fence up to 6 feet, or masonry up to 3 feet, is exempt from a building permit unless it serves as a pool enclosure. Zoning still limits a required front yard to a solid 3 feet or an open 4 feet. A new fence in a historic district is a minor Certificate of Appropriateness item.
A Redlands fence usually stands on a lot with a long story. The City dates itself to 1881, incorporated in 1888 and spent much of its history as the navel orange capital, and the Housing Element ties the postwar boom, from 18,429 residents in 1950 to 60,394 in 1990, to subdividing former citrus groves. Census Bureau ACS 2024 one-year estimates count 27,483 homes, 56.8 percent of them single-family detached, with about 56 percent built before 1980. The 2019 Housing Element table says 65.8 percent, so call it 56 to 66 percent. A fence here can sit beside a ranch tract, a 1950s home, a turn-of-the-century bungalow near Smiley Park or one of the stately homes on Olive and Highland Avenues, and each setting plays by a different rulebook.
For a fence job, MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) checks the zone, the historic overlay and the permit list before pricing and then keeps the schedule, while a licensed C-13 fencing subcontractor sets the posts and a masonry-licensed subcontractor builds any block. The fencing page has our sourced prices, the Redlands overview covers every trade here, and the guides for San Bernardino and Fontana show how two nearby cities set limits. Fence and wall permits come from the Building & Safety Division, and block walls and fencing can be started online. The Municipal Code text below was read in GoCodebook's third-party mirror, so confirm each section with the City.
What Redlands' exemption list, zoning heights and historic checklist say about fences
Where fencing permits come from in Redlands: City of Redlands Development Services Department, Building & Safety Division.
- Permit exemption: wood, chain-link, plastic, vinyl, metal or similar fences up to 6 feet and masonry or concrete fences up to 3 feet (measured from the lowest adjacent grade) are exempt from a building permit if they do not serve as a swimming pool enclosure, and retaining walls up to 3 feet measured from the top of footing are exempt unless they support a surcharge or impound Class I, II or IIIA liquids (Municipal Code 15.04.020 and 15.06.020, GoCodebook mirror; the City's 2019 handout measures retaining walls from the lowest adjacent grade).
- Zoning heights (Municipal Code 18.168.020, GoCodebook mirror): open fences (wire mesh admitting at least 90 percent of light) up to 4 feet are allowed in a required front yard, no other fence or wall over 3 feet may sit in a required front yard, fences and walls up to 6 feet are allowed along side and rear lines, nothing may block visibility inside the corner cutoff at street, alley and driveway intersections, and a 6 foot fence or wall is required at the top of slopes where the top is a line between separate owners.
- Taller or non-standard fences and walls need a Minor Exception Permit (Municipal Code 18.168.050 to .070): decided by the Community Development Director and two Planning Commissioners, limited to the resident owner, with an application fee of $2,264.00 on the Planning Permits page and the abutting owner's signature if a fence or wall crosses a property line.
- Fence permit fees (fee study): a non-masonry fence of any size is $366 full cost (current $319.25), a pre-engineered masonry wall 6 to 8 feet high is $439 (current $383.10) with $220 for each added 100 linear feet, and a concrete or masonry retaining wall is $439 for the first 50 linear feet (current $383.10); block walls and fencing can be applied for in the City's online portal.
- Common property line fences: the Building & Safety forms list includes a Common Property Line Fence Agreement, and fences in a historic district or on a designated property are minor Certificate of Appropriateness items (new fences or walls).
- Pool enclosures: a fence that serves as a swimming pool enclosure is excluded from the 6 foot fence exemption, and Municipal Code 15.06.070 requires a new or remodeled private single-family pool to have an isolation enclosure plus at least one additional drowning-prevention feature from a list of seven (GoCodebook mirror).
Sources for these rules
Does a new fence in a Redlands historic district need a Certificate of Appropriateness?
Yes, as a minor item. The Planning Division's checklist lists new fences or walls among the minor Certificate of Appropriateness items that staff approve, and the Building & Safety forms page carries a Common Property Line Fence Agreement. The eight local districts are Eureka Street, West Highland Avenue, Early Redlands, Normandie Court, East Fern Avenue, Garden Hill, La Verne Street and Smiley Park Neighborhood, and the two federal districts are Santa Fe Depot and Smiley Park. Municipal Code 2.62.200 asks for elevations and samples of materials, so bring a drawing of the fence, gate and posts.
A permit-exempt fence is not exempt from design review, which is the trap in older South Redlands. Planning's permit page lists $539 for a minor certificate (the 2022 Housing Element quoted $356), and the process covers exterior work only. We did not read the district boundary maps, so ask Planning at (909) 798-7555 ext. 1 whether an address sits inside one before ordering pickets. North Redlands has many homes over 50 years old and no historic districts, so a fence there goes straight to the building and zoning rules below.
Ask Planning for the district answer in writing before any material is ordered.
How tall can a Redlands fence be without a building permit?
Six feet for wood, chain-link, plastic, vinyl, metal or similar fences, and 3 feet for masonry or concrete, measured from the lowest adjacent grade. Municipal Code 15.04.020 and 15.06.020 set those exemptions, and the City's 2019 'Do I Need a Permit?' handout agrees by listing fences over 6 feet and masonry walls over 3 feet as permit-required. Neither exemption applies to a fence that serves as a swimming pool enclosure.
Retaining walls up to 3 feet are exempt unless they carry a surcharge or hold back certain flammable liquids, but the two documents measure differently: the code counts from the top of the footing, while the handout counts from the lowest adjacent grade. Treat 3 feet as the line and ask the counter which measurement it uses before a terraced yard is priced. When a permit is required, the fee study's full-cost column lists $366 for a non-masonry fence of any size and $439 for a pre-engineered masonry wall 6 to 8 feet high, with $220 for each added 100 linear feet. We could not confirm which fee column is in force.
What can I build in a Redlands front yard, and how high can a side or rear fence go?
Municipal Code 18.168.020 allows open fences, wire mesh that passes at least 90 percent of light, up to 4 feet in a required front yard, and no other fence or wall over 3 feet there. Fences and walls up to 6 feet are allowed along side and rear lines. Nothing may block visibility inside the corner cutoff at street, alley and driveway intersections, so a solid pier or tall hedge at a driveway mouth can fail.
A 6 foot fence or wall is required at the top of slopes where the top is a line between separate owners. Taller or non-standard fences need a Minor Exception Permit under 18.168.050 to .070, decided by the Community Development Director and two Planning Commissioners, limited to the resident owner, with a $2,264 application fee on Planning's permit page and the abutting owner's signature if the fence or wall crosses a property line. Many parcels sit in a specific plan marked SP on the zone map with no Title 18 zoning, and Ordinance 2985 changed residential standards on August 15, 2025, so the zone map and Planning staff decide which numbers apply.
Have the fence subcontractor write the proposed height for each yard on the proposal.
Can I build a wood fence near my house in the Redlands canyons?
Be careful close to the house. Under the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, applied in all areas of Redlands by Municipal Code 15.30, existing buildings in High and Very High zones keep defensible space in three bands: 0 to 5 feet ember-resistant with no organic mulch, 5 to 30 feet lean, clean and green, and 30 to 100 feet of fuel reduction, with tree branches kept 6 feet clear of roofs and combustible fences. The City's wildfire plan puts about 30 percent of Redlands in a high fire hazard zone, mostly the south and east canyons around Live Oak, San Timoteo and Smiley Heights.
We found no Redlands rule that bans a wood fence outright, so do not assume one, and do not assume a fence escapes the fire rules either. Ask Redlands Fire Department whether a fence line that meets the house falls inside the 0 to 5 foot band. Parcel zones come from the map adopted with Ordinance 2986, which we could not open. Hillsides add the HD Hillside Development District, Municipal Code 18.138, which starts at 15 percent slope and requires an engineer-certified slope plan before grading.
Do I need a permit for a block wall or retaining wall in Redlands?
Over 3 feet, yes. Masonry or concrete walls over 3 feet and retaining walls over 3 feet need a permit, and the City's online portal accepts block wall applications. CSLB class C-13 covers fencing but excludes masonry walls, which are class C-29, so a block wall means a second licensed subcontractor. The fee study's full-cost column lists $439 for the first 50 linear feet of concrete or masonry retaining wall, and the current column reads $383.10.
Soils and drainage rules hide behind a wall. Municipal Code 15.06.050 requires a geotechnical report for new construction or additions above 50 percent, single-family lots should drain to a street, and off-site flow may cross only one other lot under an easement. The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan calls the 1819 Mission Zanja a serious threat in big storms and shows very high liquefaction susceptibility in sandy soils along it and the Santa Ana River, so ask Municipal Utilities & Engineering about any wall near a channel.
What happens to my pool fence or gate when I replace it in Redlands?
Replacing it is permit work. A fence that serves as a swimming pool enclosure is excluded from the 6 foot exemption, and Municipal Code 15.06.070 requires a new or remodeled private single-family pool to have an isolation enclosure plus at least one additional drowning-prevention feature from a list of seven. We did not read the barrier height and gap specifications, so the counter and the plans set them. Ask what the gate hardware must do and price it as its own line.
Construction sites carry a different fence. Municipal Code 15.56.020 has the Development Services Director require grading, excavation and new construction sites to be fenced and screened for the whole job, with the director setting height and material and an opaque or decorative vinyl screen over the fencing. If a fence is part of an addition, that temporary fence belongs in the budget.
How much does fence installation cost in Redlands, and who pays for a shared fence?
Redlands has no published price survey that we could find, so Los Angeles data stands in. Angi reports a $3,051 average for the city, with most jobs between $1,734 and $4,422, wood fences at $1,600 to $2,500 and vinyl at $1,850 to $3,400 (page updated August 4, 2026), and an overall range of $15 to $60 a foot. Its national guide adds $150 to $2,000 for a gate and $3 to $5 a foot to haul away an old fence. Our planning figures are $25 to $55 a foot for wood or vinyl privacy runs, $12 to $30 for chain-link and $35 to $85 for aluminum or ornamental iron. No independent per-foot source exists for block, so we print none.
Under Civil Code 841, neighbors presumptively split the reasonable cost of a boundary fence, and an owner planning to spend on one first owes each affected neighbor written notice 30 days ahead, describing the fix, its cost and its timing. The City's forms list includes a Common Property Line Fence Agreement, which is worth asking about when the fence sits on the line. Read our license guide before choosing a company, and how general contractors use subcontractors to see who sets the posts and who lays the block.
Fencing photos from Redlands and nearby communities
Fence scenes tied to Redlands places such as Smiley Park, Downtown, North Redlands and Lugonia, and to nearby communities such as Loma Linda, Highland, Yucaipa and Mentone, from wood privacy runs and block walls to gates and pool barriers.
Where these Redlands fence figures come from
Prices for each fence material, with source and date, are in the table on the fencing page, along with the figures that conflict. Fence work often pairs with a new roof or a repaint, and the Redlands rules for those are on the roofing page and the painting page. For a nearby city that handles fire-zone fences differently, read the guide for Rialto.
| 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 |
Redlands fencing questions, answered
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Redlands?
Not for most backyard fences. Wood, chain-link, vinyl, metal and similar fences up to 6 feet, and masonry or concrete fences up to 3 feet, are exempt from a building permit unless they serve as a pool enclosure. Zoning heights and, in a historic district, a Certificate of Appropriateness still apply, so ask Planning before you build.
How tall can my front fence be in Redlands?
In a required front yard, an open fence of wire mesh that passes at least 90 percent of light can reach 4 feet, and any other fence or wall is limited to 3 feet under Municipal Code 18.168.020. Nothing may block visibility inside the corner cutoff at intersections and driveways. Confirm the zone with Planning first, because some parcels sit in specific plans.
Can I put up a 7 ft fence in Redlands?
Not as of right. The building permit exemption stops at 6 feet, and zoning allows fences and walls up to 6 feet along side and rear lines. Anything taller needs a Minor Exception Permit, limited to the resident owner, with a $2,264 application fee on Planning's permit page and the abutting owner's signature if the fence crosses a property line.
Do you need a permit to build a block wall in Redlands?
Yes, once it is over 3 feet. Masonry or concrete walls and retaining walls over 3 feet need a permit, and block wall applications can be started in the City's online portal. Block is also a separate trade, CSLB class C-29, so it takes a second licensed subcontractor beyond the fence crew.
Does your neighbor have to pay for half the fence in California?
Usually, yes. California Civil Code 841 presumes neighbors share the reasonable cost of a boundary fence equally, but an owner who plans to spend money on it must give each affected neighbor 30 days' written notice with the proposed solution, estimated costs and timeline. A survey or marked line settles where the fence goes before a crew digs.
What is the difference between a fence company and a masonry contractor in California?
A fence company holds CSLB class C-13, which covers fencing but excludes masonry walls, while a masonry contractor holds class C-29. A block wall therefore means a second licensed subcontractor. We coordinate both so that gates, posts and block meet cleanly, and clients can ask for each subcontractor's license number.
How much does fence installation cost in Redlands?
We found no Redlands survey, so we use Los Angeles data. Angi's Los Angeles page shows a $3,051 average inside a $1,734 to $4,422 range, with wood at $1,600 to $2,500 and vinyl at $1,850 to $3,400. For planning we use $25 to $55 a foot for wood or vinyl, before gates, removal of an old fence and any historic-district materials.
Do I need approval for a new fence in a Redlands historic district?
Yes. New fences and walls on a landmark or in one of the eight local historic districts are minor Certificate of Appropriateness items that Planning staff approve, even when no building permit is needed. Planning's permit page lists $539 for a minor certificate. Call (909) 798-7555 ext. 1 to find out whether an address is inside a district.
Do I need a permit to replace a pool fence or gate in Redlands?
Yes, expect to. A fence that serves as a pool enclosure is excluded from the 6 foot exemption, and Municipal Code 15.06.070 requires a new or remodeled private single-family pool to have an isolation enclosure plus another drowning-prevention feature. Ask the Building & Safety Division what a replacement gate must do before the fence subcontractor orders hardware.
What happens if I don't have a permit for a fence?
If the fence needed a permit, Redlands charges an investigation fee equal to the minimum permit fee, and a code violation is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in county jail, each day counting separately. The City can also withhold a later permit when violations exist on the site, so fix it early.
Ask for a fence estimate in Redlands
Tell us your part of town, the material you prefer, which side of the lot faces the street and whether a historic district, pool, slope or canyon fire zone is involved. We read the limits for each yard before we phone you back.