Fence Companyin San Dimas, CA
A fence company in San Dimas works to 42 inches in the front setback and 6 feet along side and rear lines. A building permit is needed above 6 feet, but the City's papers word the 6 foot line two ways, and Planning approval applies either way. Code mirrors also bar chain link and plain block.
Most San Dimas fences mark the edge of a single-family lot. The Census Bureau's 2024 five-year estimates count 7,620 detached houses, 61.6 percent of the city's 12,370 housing units, and the city itself is young on paper: it incorporated on August 4, 1960 as the 70th city in Los Angeles County, after decades as a citrus town. Fence law here comes from the zoning code and from a handful of City handouts that do not always agree with each other.
On a fence job, MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) measures the lot, files the City paperwork and runs the schedule, and licensed subcontractors build it: a C-13 fencing contractor for wood, vinyl and metal, and a masonry contractor for block walls. Our fencing page holds the sourced prices, the San Dimas overview covers the other trades, and neighboring cities set their own limits, as the guides for Claremont and Covina show.
What San Dimas's Planning pages and handouts say about fences and walls
Where fencing permits come from in San Dimas: City of San Dimas Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division.
- The City's Building and Safety pages say a fence or wall needs a building permit only above 6 feet; the permit handout exempts fences and block walls under 6 feet (measured from the top of the footing), though Planning Department approval is still required.
- San Dimas's Planning FAQ says front yard fences can be up to 42 inches tall and side and rear fences up to six feet, and that fences over six feet need a building permit.
- A third-party mirror of Municipal Code 18.20.110 quotes the rule that fences and walls not over forty-two inches high are permitted in any required front yard setback, and that fences and walls not over six feet are allowed on or within side and rear property lines. This mirror is not the official code (eCode360 returned 403), so confirm with Planning.
- The same third-party text of 18.20.110 limits corner-lot street side fences, walls and gates to 6 feet measured from the street side face, requires them to sit at least 18 inches back from the street side line unless a landscaped parkway exists, and requires irrigated decorative landscaping in the strip between the fence and the property line. Front-setback fences on a corner lot stay at 42 inches.
- Per the third-party text of 18.20.110, fence materials are limited to wood, decorative tubular steel or wrought iron, vinyl and solid decorative masonry with a decorative cap. Plain or precision cinder block is barred unless the property is already developed with the same block on at least half its side and rear lines, and chain-link, corrugated metal, metal slat, railroad ties, exposed block and razor or concertina wire are prohibited, with chain-link allowed only for active construction and vacant lots.
- The third-party text of 18.20.110 says a new or redeveloped lot with a new residence must build a decorative masonry block wall with a decorative cap, and that no solid fencing or walls are permitted within a slope area at or steeper than 2:1. Where the grade differs across a wall, the 6 foot limit is measured from the lowest grade, and steeper lots use a series of smaller retaining walls.
- The city's residential non-retaining block wall handout shows a maximum height of 6 feet, with footings 18 inches wide for 3 to 4 foot walls, 20 inches for 4 to 5 feet and 24 inches for 5 to 6 feet, and notes that walls must not obstruct lot drainage. It says to contact Planning about the city requirement for decorative block or finish.
- The city's permit handout (effective 01/21) says retaining walls not over 3 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing, are exempt unless supporting a surcharge, while the newer city web page says a permit is required if the wall is level on both sides and taller than 2 feet 10 inches, or any height if it supports a surcharge such as a slope. Confirm which applies before building a retaining wall.
How tall can a fence be in a San Dimas front, side or back yard?
The City's Planning FAQ gives two numbers: front yard fences can be up to 42 inches, and side and rear fences up to six feet. A third-party mirror of Municipal Code 18.20.110 on gocodebook.com says the same, with fences and walls not over forty-two inches high allowed in any required front yard setback and not over six feet allowed on or within side and rear property lines. We could not read the official code, because eCode360 refused our request, so treat the mirror as a pointer and confirm with Planning at (909) 394-6250.
Where the grade differs across a wall, the mirror says the 6 foot limit is measured from the lowest grade, and steeper lots use a series of smaller retaining walls. That matters when a neighbor's lot sits higher or lower: measure both grades before the fence company sets a height.
Put the finished height, and the grade it is measured from, on the written proposal.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in San Dimas, and what about exactly 6 feet?
A building permit is needed above 6 feet, according to the City's Building and Safety page, its Planning FAQ and the Homeowner's Guide. The permit handout words the line differently, exempting fences and block walls under 6 feet, measured from the top of the footing, and adding that Planning Department approval is still required. A fence of exactly 6 feet falls between the two wordings, and none of the handouts we read addresses it. Ask whether yours needs a permit before you build to the limit.
The Single Trade Permit covers one-trade jobs, and the City's list for it names fences and block walls over six feet. Planning's role applies below that height too. A third-party mirror of Chapter 18.12 says development plan review covers building changes and lists decks and patios among its items, but its table lost its layout, so we cannot say whether a fence needs the Development Plan Review Board. Ask Planning about both approvals.
Get the permit answer in writing before any materials are ordered.
What fence materials are allowed in San Dimas, and is chain link banned?
Per the gocodebook text of 18.20.110, fence materials are limited to wood, decorative tubular steel or wrought iron, vinyl and solid decorative masonry with a decorative cap. Chain link, corrugated metal, metal slat, railroad ties, exposed block and razor or concertina wire are prohibited, with chain link allowed only for active construction and vacant lots. Plain or precision cinder block is barred as well, unless the property is already developed with the same block on at least half its side and rear lines.
The same mirror says a new or redeveloped lot with a new residence must build a decorative masonry block wall with a decorative cap, and that no solid fencing or walls are permitted within a slope area at or steeper than 2:1. That is third-party text, and a rule for new houses may not govern a repair of an old wood fence. Ask Planning how your lot is treated before you choose between wood, vinyl and block.
What are the fence rules for a San Dimas corner lot or front yard?
The mirror text limits a corner lot's street side fences, walls and gates to 6 feet measured from the street side face. They must sit at least 18 inches back from the street side line unless a landscaped parkway exists, and irrigated decorative landscaping is required in the strip between the fence and the property line. Front setback fences on a corner lot stay at 42 inches. The planted strip belongs in the budget, so plan its irrigation and plants with the fence, not after it.
Downtown lots may carry another layer. The City's Town Core page says the area around historic downtown has Town Core Fence and Wall Guidelines, adopted in July 2010, and Town Core Residential Guidelines sit beside them. Those PDFs are scanned images we could not read, so we state no heights or materials from them. If your house is near Bonita Avenue, ask Planning whether the guidelines reach your lot before the fence is designed.
Can I build a retaining wall or fence on a San Dimas hillside lot?
Hillsides are a separate zone. Chapter 18.164 of the zoning code, read on a code mirror, applies to parcels with a significant topographic feature over a 20 percent slope or an average slope of 10 percent or more. The SF-H hillside zone requires a development plan before grading or building, with cut and fill limited to 12 feet. The Homeowner's Guide adds that San Dimas lies in an area of substantial earthquake activity and requires a geotechnical report for retaining walls over 6 feet.
For a smaller retaining wall, the City contradicts itself. The permit handout, effective January 2021, exempts walls up to 3 feet measured from the bottom of the footing unless they support a surcharge. The newer web page requires a permit above 2 feet 10 inches when the ground is level on both sides, and at any height when the wall supports a surcharge such as a slope. We are not resolving that conflict. Ask the Building Division which applies, with your wall's height and what sits above it.
What does a San Dimas block wall need for footings and drainage?
The City's non-retaining block wall handout shows a maximum height of 6 feet, with footings 18 inches wide for walls 3 to 4 feet high, 20 inches for 4 to 5 feet and 24 inches for 5 to 6 feet. It notes that a wall must not obstruct lot drainage, and it tells owners to contact Planning about the City's requirement for decorative block or finish.
Who builds what matters. CSLB defines the C-13 fencing classification as constructing, erecting, altering or repairing all types of fences, corrals, runs, railings, guard rails, barriers and gates, excluding masonry walls, so a block wall belongs to a masonry contractor. A fence company that quotes both either has a masonry subcontractor or holds a second license, so ask which. Our contractor license guide shows the CSLB lookup.
How much does fence installation cost in San Dimas, and who pays for a shared fence?
We found no San Dimas price survey and print no San Dimas price. For Los Angeles, Angi's page updated August 4, 2026 shows $15 to $60 per foot, with 100 feet at $2,100 to $2,350, while HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr give overlapping ranges and a federal survey puts the area fence erector's mean wage at $28.00 an hour for May 2025. Weighing those sources, we plan about $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 roughly $2,500 to $5,500 for a 100 foot backyard run. Block walls have no price source we trust, so we print none.
On a shared boundary, California Civil Code 841 presumes adjoining owners share equally in the reasonable cost of building, maintaining or replacing a fence on the common line. An owner planning the work must give each affected neighbor 30 days' written notice describing the problem, the fix, estimated costs, the cost-sharing proposal and the timeline. The state's $1,000 unlicensed work limit does not cover permitted work, so a fence over 6 feet needs a licensed contractor. We found no San Dimas permit fee to quote.
Fence photos from San Dimas and nearby communities
Seven fencing scenes tied to San Dimas lots and to nearby places such as La Verne, Glendora and Pomona, from open front fences and corner lot runs to block walls and hillside steps.
Where these San Dimas fence figures come from
Each fence price and its source sits in the table on our fencing price page, and how general contractors use subcontractors explains who builds what. A new fence often goes up with other work, and the San Dimas rules for it are on the roofing page, the painting page and the kitchen remodeling page. To compare another city's approach, read the fencing guides for Glendale and Pasadena.
| 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 |
San Dimas fence questions, answered
How much does it cost to have 100 feet of fence installed?
About $2,500 to $5,500 for 100 feet of 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence, from our Los Angeles synthesis of Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr. Angi's Los Angeles page alone shows $2,100 to $2,350. Gates, tear-out of an old fence, slopes and block walls all move the total, so the written proposal sets the real price.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in San Dimas?
Planning approval applies to fences, and a building permit is needed above 6 feet. The City's papers word the 6 foot line two ways, one exempting fences under 6 feet and others requiring a permit above 6 feet, so a fence of exactly 6 feet is unclear. Ask Building and Safety before you build.
Can I put up a 7 ft fence?
Not under the limits we found. The City's Planning FAQ and the code mirror put side and rear fences at 6 feet, and 7 feet is above that. We found no route to a taller fence in the pages we read, so ask Planning at (909) 394-6250 before designing one.
Can I put a privacy fence up in my front yard?
Not a tall one. Front yard fences can be up to 42 inches, which is too low for privacy. A corner lot's street side fence can reach 6 feet from the street side face, set back at least 18 inches from the line unless a landscaped parkway exists, per the code mirror.
Does your neighbor have to pay for half the fence in California?
Often in part, but not automatically. Civil Code 841 presumes adjoining owners share equally the reasonable cost of a boundary fence, and an owner planning the work must give 30 days' written notice first. The law only sets a starting presumption, so settle the split with the neighbor in a signed note.
What happens if I don't have a permit for a fence?
We could not name a fine, because the official code site refused our requests and we found no penalty text on the City's pages. What the City says is that a fence over 6 feet needs a building permit and Planning approval applies to fences, so ask Building and Safety before building.
Is it cheaper to install a wood or vinyl fence?
Wood is usually cheaper at the low end. On Angi's national page, updated October 13, 2026, wood runs $10 to $45 a foot and vinyl $15 to $40, so the two ranges overlap. San Dimas allows both, plus decorative steel or iron and solid decorative masonry, per the code mirror.
How tall can my front fence be in California?
That is set by each city. In San Dimas the Planning FAQ allows up to 42 inches in the front yard, and the code mirror calls for that limit in any required front yard setback. We did not research other cities' limits on this page.
Is chain link allowed for a fence in San Dimas?
Not on a typical home lot. The code mirror prohibits chain link, allowing it only for active construction and vacant lots, along with corrugated metal, metal slat, railroad ties, exposed block and razor wire. That is third-party text, so confirm with Planning before ordering.
What is the maximum height of a retaining wall without a permit?
The City's papers give two answers. The permit handout exempts walls up to 3 feet from the bottom of the footing unless they support a surcharge, while the web page requires a permit above 2 feet 10 inches on level ground. Ask the Building Division which applies.
Get a fence plan for your San Dimas lot
Send the street, whether the fence runs along the front, side or back, and whether you are on a corner. We check the height limits, the material rules and the permit steps with the City before we call back.