Fence Companyin Santa Monica, CA
A fence company in Santa Monica works to zoning limits: fences, walls and hedges in a front setback stop at 42 inches, while side and rear fences and walls may reach 8 feet. Fence installation around a pool needs a barrier at least 5 feet high. Landmark review can apply, and the City's permit height line needs confirming.
Santa Monica fences are mostly a question of where the fence sits. Most of the city's 54,322 housing units are in apartment buildings: the Census Bureau's 2024 estimates put 63.7 percent in buildings of five or more units and only 20.7 percent, about 11,242, in single-family detached houses. Many of those houses are old, since 71.7 percent of all units predate 1980. Wikipedia's neighborhood page says Sunset Park is mostly small one-story homes built in the 1940s for Douglas Aircraft workers, the kind of lot where a side and rear fence does the privacy work and the zoning code holds the front to 42 inches.
The permit height is where City sources disagree, and we say so below. MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) takes fence work as the general contractor: we set the scope, check height and setback rules against your lot, pull a permit when one applies and schedule a licensed fence subcontractor to build it. Our fencing page has the sourced price table, with neighboring guides for Los Angeles and Glendale.
What Santa Monica's zoning and building codes say about fences
Where fencing permits come from in Santa Monica: City of Santa Monica Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division.
- SMMC 8.08.050(c)(2) exempts from a building permit freestanding masonry or concrete walls not over 4 feet high and other fences not over 7 feet high. The City's Building and Construction Permits page and project tables instead describe freestanding walls and fences up to 6 feet as exempt, so the exact height line should be confirmed with the Permit Services Center.
- The City's single-family thresholds list a fence or wall more than 6 feet in height as Same-Day Plan Review, and its retaining wall table says a building permit is not required for fences or walls 6 feet or less in height but the project must still meet the zoning district's development standards.
- SMMC 9.21.050 caps hedges, fences and walls in a front setback at 42 inches. In the front setback it also allows one pergola up to 8 feet high and wide and 3 feet deep, ornamental attachments up to 12 inches above the limit (at most 12 inches wide and 5 feet apart), and a guardrail only as high as the building code requires and at least 50 percent visually transparent above the limit.
- SMMC 9.21.050 sets side and rear setback limits of 8 feet for fences and walls and 12 feet for hedges (no height limit for hedges within 10 feet of an alley). A parcel owner may ask for a height modification under Chapter 9.43, and in the Downtown Community Plan Area fences are prohibited between the building frontage line and the street and capped at 5 feet behind it.
- SMMC 9.21.050 grandfathers fences, walls and hedges that were registered with the City by November 15, 2007 at their August 26, 2005 height, allows in-kind repair or replacement within 5 years after removal, and lets neighbors remove encroaching hedge growth back to the property line after 30 days' notice.
- The City's retaining wall table says no application is necessary for a retaining wall up to 4 feet high with no surcharge, and no object over 24 inches high may sit in the Hazardous Visual Obstruction triangle near driveways, parking spaces, garage doors, streets and alleys. SMMC 8.08.050(c)(5) exempts retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing unless they support a surcharge.
- For pools, spas and ponds with water 18 inches or deeper, SMMC 8.12 requires a fence, wall or other barrier at least 5 feet above grade with no opening over 4 inches and a self-closing gate whose latch is at least 5 feet above the ground (4.5 feet for enclosures built under permits issued before July 1, 1999). Replacing or repairing more than 50 percent of an older enclosure brings it up to the new standard.
- SMMC 9.21.160 requires a swimming pool or spa to be fenced or walled and, where it is less than 30 feet from a parcel line, screened by a masonry wall or solid fence at least 6 feet high on that side (subject to the fence rules), and keeps pool filtration equipment out of the front and side setbacks with sound not audible from other parcels.
How tall can a fence be in a Santa Monica front yard?
Forty-two inches is the number. SMMC 9.21.050 caps hedges, fences and walls in a front setback at 42 inches. The section allows narrow exceptions: one pergola up to 8 feet high and wide and 3 feet deep, ornamental attachments up to 12 inches above the limit (at most 12 inches wide and 5 feet apart), and a guardrail only as high as the building code requires and at least 50 percent visually transparent above the limit.
In the R1 district the front setback is 20 feet or whatever the Official Districting Map sets (SMMC 9.07.030), so on a lot with a 20 foot setback the 42 inch rule covers a deep strip of the yard, not just the line at the sidewalk.
Driveways add a second limit. The City's retaining wall table says no object over 24 inches high may sit in the Hazardous Visual Obstruction triangle near driveways, parking spaces, garage doors, streets and alleys, so a solid pier or post cap near the driveway apron is worth checking against it.
How tall can a backyard fence be, and does Santa Monica require a fence permit?
Side and rear setback limits are 8 feet for fences and walls and 12 feet for hedges, and a hedge within 10 feet of an alley has no height limit (SMMC 9.21.050). The permit line is where City sources disagree. SMMC 8.08.050(c)(2) exempts freestanding masonry or concrete walls up to 4 feet and other fences up to 7 feet. The City's permit page and project tables describe fences and walls of 6 feet or less as exempt, and its thresholds list a fence or wall over 6 feet as Same-Day Plan Review.
We cannot reconcile those numbers, so ask the Permit Services Center for the height line before you order materials. Exempt does not mean unregulated: SMMC 8.08.050(a) says an exemption does not authorize work that violates any code or law, so zoning heights, setbacks and the visibility triangle still apply. The City's Building and Construction Permits page says the same.
Material choice is local too. UC Integrated Pest Management says drywood termites are most prevalent in southern California and infest fences and decks, so ask for termite-resistant wood or concrete footings where wood meets soil.
What fence installation does a Santa Monica pool or spa need?
SMMC 8.12 requires a barrier at least 5 feet above grade around a pool, spa or pond with water 18 inches or deeper, with no opening over 4 inches and a self-closing gate whose latch sits at least 5 feet above the ground. An older enclosure built under a permit issued before July 1, 1999 may have a 4.5 foot latch, but repairing or replacing more than 50 percent of it brings the whole enclosure up to the current standard.
Zoning adds SMMC 9.21.160. A pool or spa must be fenced or walled, and where it sits less than 30 feet from a parcel line, a masonry wall or solid fence at least 6 feet high must screen that side, within the fence rules. Filtration equipment cannot sit in the front or side setbacks, and its sound must not be audible from other parcels. The City lists pool or spa installation among work that typically needs a building permit, so settle the barrier in the same application.
Does a fence in a Santa Monica historic district need approval?
It can. Under SMMC 9.56.210, building, demolishing or altering side and rear yard fences on a Landmark or in a Historic District is ordinary maintenance approved by the Landmarks Commission Secretary, and so is altering a front yard fence when its appearance does not change. A new front yard design is different, and the City's plan review page is where to ask. In the Third Street Neighborhood Historic District, SMMC 9.58.020 requires administrative approval to remove, demolish, add or alter front yard fences and retaining walls, while rear and side yard fences need only a certificate of exemption when a building permit applies.
The five districts are Third Street Neighborhood, Bay Street Craftsman Cluster, San Vicente Boulevard Courtyard Apartments, 11th Street Bungalow and 4th Street Corner, and the landmark list is numbered through 143. SMMC 9.56.290 describes the Third Street bungalows as set into the hillside on the east side of Third Street. Confirm your address with City Planning before a fence design is drawn.
Who pays for a shared fence in Santa Monica, and what about hedges?
California's Civil Code 841, often called the Good Neighbor Fence Act, presumes that neighbors who share a boundary fence share its cost equally, and it asks the owner who wants work done to give 30 days' written notice before incurring costs. The presumption can be rebutted, so a dated letter and a survey matter more than a handshake.
Santa Monica adds a hedge rule. SMMC 9.21.050 lets neighbors remove encroaching hedge growth back to the property line after 30 days' notice. It also grandfathers fences, walls and hedges registered with the City by November 15, 2007 at their August 26, 2005 height and allows in-kind repair or replacement within 5 years after removal, so an old tall hedge may hold rights a new one would not.
What fence rules apply downtown, on a retaining wall or near a power line?
In the Downtown Community Plan Area, SMMC 9.21.050 prohibits fences between the building frontage line and the street and caps them at 5 feet behind it. The City also says much of Downtown sits in the Coastal Zone, where the California Coastal Commission still decides coastal permits because the City has no certified Implementation Plan. We found no page saying whether a fence there needs a coastal permit, so ask.
A retaining wall up to 4 feet high with no surcharge needs no application, measured from the bottom of the footing (SMMC 8.08.050(c)(5)), and zoning standards still apply. Taller walls go through the thresholds, so ask. An owner who needs more height can request a modification under Chapter 9.43, which we did not read.
If a Southern California Edison easement crosses the lot, the City's ADU project tables say block walls or fencing in a utility easement need authorization through a Request for Easement, and they recommend early contact with SCE about overhead clearances under CPUC General Order 95.
How much does fence installation cost in Santa Monica, and how do I hire a fence company?
We found no Santa Monica fence price survey. Angi's Los Angeles page, updated August 4, 2026, reports a $3,051 average project (typical $1,734 to $4,422) and $15 to $60 per linear foot, with 100 feet at $2,100 to $2,350, wood projects at $1,600 to $2,500 and vinyl at $1,850 to $3,400. Weighing Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr together, our planning range for a 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence in Los Angeles is $25 to $55 per linear foot, chain-link $12 to $30 and aluminum or ornamental iron $35 to $85, which puts 100 feet near $2,500 to $5,500. 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 fall under C-29 Masonry. A contractor pulling a Santa Monica permit needs a City business license, the state license and proof of workers' compensation, and California limits the down payment to $1,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less (Business and Professions Code 7159.5). On an MDG job, ask for the fence subcontractor's license number and certificate of insurance. Our license check guide shows how to read the record.
Fence photos from Santa Monica and nearby communities
These fences and gates were photographed around Santa Monica, from Ocean Park to North of Montana, and in nearby Venice, Mar Vista and Brentwood, in wood, metal and glass.
Where the fence numbers come from
The sourced per-foot table and every source are on our fencing price page, and how general contractors use subcontractors explains who answers for what. Fences and roofs often travel together, so see the Santa Monica pages for roofing, painting and the city overview. Another city's fence rules read differently: compare 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 |
Other work we manage in Santa Monica
Santa Monica fence questions, answered
How much does fence installation cost in Santa Monica, and what does 200 feet cost?
We found no Santa Monica survey. Using our Los Angeles planning range of $25 to $55 per linear foot for a 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence, 200 feet runs about $5,000 to $11,000. Angi's Los Angeles page shows a $3,051 average project. A measured written proposal sets the real price.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Santa Monica?
It depends on height, and City sources disagree. SMMC 8.08.050(c)(2) exempts masonry walls to 4 feet and other fences to 7 feet, while the City's permit pages say fences and walls of 6 feet or less are exempt. Zoning limits apply either way, so confirm the line with the Permit Services Center.
What are the new fence rules in California in 2026?
We could not verify a statewide 2026 fence rule. Reports of a Board of Forestry ember-resistant zone conflict on whether it took effect, so we do not state it. The rules we can cite for Santa Monica are local: 42 inches in a front setback, 8 feet at side and rear, and pool barriers at least 5 feet high.
Can I put up a 7ft fence?
In a side or rear yard, zoning allows fences up to 8 feet, so 7 feet fits, but not in a front setback, which stops at 42 inches. Whether a 7 foot fence needs a permit is the contested point: SMMC 8.08.050(c)(2) exempts other fences up to 7 feet, while City pages say 6 feet.
Does your neighbor have to pay for half the fence in California?
Usually yes, by presumption. California Civil Code 841 presumes neighbors who share a boundary fence share its cost equally, and the owner who wants the work must give 30 days' written notice before incurring costs. The presumption can be rebutted, so keep the notice, the quote and a survey.
Is it cheaper to install a wood or vinyl fence?
Wood usually costs less. Angi's Los Angeles page, updated August 2026, lists wood projects at $1,600 to $2,500 and vinyl at $1,850 to $3,400, though other publishers overlap and disagree at the edges. Termite resistance and gate hardware move the totals, so price both in writing.
What is the maximum height of a retaining wall without a permit in California?
The state model list exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing unless they carry a surcharge, and Santa Monica's SMMC 8.08.050(c)(5) says the same. The City's table adds that zoning standards still apply and that nothing over 24 inches may sit in the driveway visibility triangle.
What fence does a Santa Monica pool need?
A barrier at least 5 feet above grade, with no opening over 4 inches and a self-closing gate whose latch is at least 5 feet above the ground (SMMC 8.12). Zoning adds a masonry wall or solid fence at least 6 feet high on any side less than 30 feet from a parcel line.
Does a historic district change fence installation in Santa Monica?
Yes, mostly at the front. Side and rear fences on a Landmark or in a Historic District are ordinary maintenance approved by the Landmarks Commission Secretary, but in the Third Street Neighborhood district adding or altering a front yard fence needs administrative approval under SMMC 9.58.020.
How tall can my front fence be in California?
We found no single statewide number, and cities set their own. In Santa Monica, SMMC 9.21.050 caps hedges, fences and walls in a front setback at 42 inches, with narrow exceptions for a pergola, ornamental attachments and a transparent guardrail. Downtown, fences are prohibited between the building frontage line and the street.
Describe your Santa Monica fence
Tell us the street, where the fence will run and whether the property is a house, a rental or in a historic district, and we will check heights and review steps before the site visit.