Fence Companyin South Pasadena, CA
A fence company in South Pasadena works to Zoning Code 36.300.050: 3 feet in front and street side setbacks, 6 feet in side and rear setbacks, and up to 8 feet by administrative approval. Chain link and barbed wire are restricted, hillside lots have wall limits, and the code text we read states no ordinary fence permit rule.
South Pasadena fences mostly mark small lots. The Census Bureau's 2024 five-year estimates count 4,801 single-family detached homes among 10,817 housing units, about 44 percent, while about 34 percent of units sit in buildings of five or more. The city was incorporated in 1888, and its historic guidelines describe Craftsman, Mission and Spanish Colonial Revival houses whose front yards the City asks to stay open to the street.
Fence work here mixes zoning, hillside and neighbor questions. On a fence job, MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) measures the lot, checks the height and review rules with Planning and manages the schedule, while licensed subcontractors build: a C-13 contractor for wood, vinyl and metal and a masonry contractor for block. Our fencing page holds the sourced prices, the South Pasadena overview covers every trade here, and neighboring cities set other limits, as the guides for Alhambra and Pasadena show.
What South Pasadena's Zoning Code says about fences and walls
Where fencing permits come from in South Pasadena: City of South Pasadena Community Development Department, Building Division.
- South Pasadena Zoning Code 36.300.050 (Table 3-2) caps walls and fences at 3 feet in front and street side setbacks and at 6 feet in side and rear setbacks, with side and rear fences up to 8 feet by administrative approval and 8 feet where a nonresidential district abuts a residential one. A hedge in a required side setback is capped at 10 feet unless the Director approves more after finding it will not unduly limit light and views. The text is from a municipal code mirror (gocodebook.com), so confirm with Planning.
- Under 36.300.050 height is measured from finished grade at the base of the fence or wall to its highest point, and where grade differs on the two sides the lower side governs if the difference is more than 2 feet and the higher side if it is 2 feet or less. Ornamental finials or caps may exceed the limit by 6 inches if at least 4 feet apart, and pool and spa fencing follows the building code. Section 36.300.040(C) limits structures and landscaping to 36 inches where traffic sight lines may be affected.
- Prohibited fence materials under 36.300.050(H) are barbed or razor wire, chain link in a front or street side setback in a residential zone, and concrete masonry units unless Design Review approves them. Screening walls under 36.300.070 also need Design Review. The section states no building permit rule for ordinary fences.
- Side and rear fences over 6 feet and up to 8 feet can also be approved as an Administrative Modification (36.410.070), but that tool is not available for hillside properties, can be used once per request type per address, and sends notice of approval to owners within 300 feet.
- In the Altos de Monterey (AM) overlay (36.250.030, Table 2-7) front yard fences are limited to 2 feet within a sight distance area and 3 feet elsewhere, side and rear yard fences to 6 feet, garden walls in front and street side setbacks to 36 inches (hedges with the same effect included), and retaining walls to 6 feet, with multiple walls separated by a distance equal to wall height.
- The exempt-work list in the municipal code mirror (Chapter 9, Section 107.2) exempts chain link, wrought iron and similar fences up to 12 feet, masonry, concrete and wood fences up to 6 feet, wood fences up to 8 feet that are at least 60 percent open and not wind loadable, and retaining walls of 4 feet or less measured from the bottom of the footing unless they carry a surcharge. The city's 2015 Southwest Monterey Hills booklet says fences 6 feet or less need no permit and retaining walls higher than 3 feet do, so the retaining wall threshold differs by source and zoning review still applies.
- On lots with an average slope of 20 percent or more (36.340), no retaining wall may exceed 6 feet, long walls should be terraced or offset about every 30 feet, and walls over 3 feet visible from off-site should be screened with landscaping. The division also requires a Hillside Development Permit and Design Review for development it covers, and a preliminary geotechnical report.
- The city's 2009 Residential Design Guidelines for historic homes say front yards should remain open to public view and free of fencing or hedges, and that historic retaining walls, curbs and stairs should be preserved.
How tall can a fence be in a South Pasadena front, side or back yard?
Table 3-2 of Zoning Code 36.300.050 sets the limits, and the list below comes from the GoCodebook mirror of the code, because the City's code publisher blocked our tools:
Height is measured from finished grade at the base of the fence to its highest point. Where grade differs on the two sides, the lower side governs if the difference is more than 2 feet and the higher side if it is 2 feet or less. Decorative finials or caps may rise 6 inches above the limit when they are at least 4 feet apart, and section 36.300.040(C) limits structures and landscaping to 36 inches where traffic sight lines may be affected.
- Front and street side setbacks: 3 feet
- Side and rear setbacks: 6 feet, or up to 8 feet by administrative approval
- Where a nonresidential district abuts a residential one: 8 feet
- A hedge in a required side setback: 10 feet, more only if the Director finds it will not unduly limit light and views
Confirm the numbers with Planning at (626) 403-7220 before a fence is ordered.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in South Pasadena?
Possibly no building permit, but check zoning and review. The Zoning Code section on fences states no building permit rule for ordinary fences. The exempt list in the code mirror covers chain link, wrought iron and similar fences up to 12 feet, masonry, concrete and wood fences up to 6 feet, and wood fences up to 8 feet that are at least 60 percent open and not wind loadable. The City's 2015 Southwest Monterey Hills booklet says fences of 6 feet or less need no permit. Zoning applies to every one of them.
Review is the other layer. Screening walls under Zoning Code 36.300.070 need Design Review, and concrete masonry units are allowed only if Design Review approves them. A side or rear fence over 6 feet and up to 8 feet can also go through an Administrative Modification under 36.410.070, but that tool is not available on hillside properties, can be used once per request type per address and sends notice to owners within 300 feet. We found no fence fee, so we print none.
The exempt list may predate the City's 2025 code update, Ordinance 2407, whose adoption we could not confirm, so ask the Building Division which text is in force.
Is chain link allowed in South Pasadena, and what fence materials are banned?
Chain link is barred only in front and street side setbacks of residential zones, so a rear yard run is outside that ban. Zoning Code 36.300.050(H) also prohibits barbed or razor wire and concrete masonry units unless Design Review approves them. That leaves wood, vinyl, aluminum and iron for front-facing runs, and the height cap decides between solid and open.
Material also decides the license. CSLB's C-13 fencing class covers fences, railings, gates and similar barriers but excludes masonry walls, so block goes to a masonry contractor. Pool and spa fencing follows the building code instead of the zoning table, so plan a pool barrier with the Building Division rather than from the height list above. On wood, the University of California's pest management program says drywood termites are most prevalent in southern California and infest decks and fences, so ask about termite-resistant wood or concrete footers where wood meets soil.
How high can a retaining wall or hillside fence be in South Pasadena?
Hillside rules are tighter, and the wall permit threshold is a conflict. On lots with an average slope of 20 percent or more, Division 36.340 caps retaining walls at 6 feet, asks that long walls be terraced or offset about every 30 feet and calls for landscape screening of walls over 3 feet visible from off site. Those lots also need a Hillside Development Permit, Design Review and a preliminary geotechnical report for the development the division covers.
On permits, the sources disagree. The code mirror's exempt list excludes retaining walls of 4 feet or less, measured from the bottom of the footing, unless they carry a surcharge, while the City's 2015 booklet says walls higher than 3 feet need a permit. We state both because we cannot tell which governs your wall. Ask the Building Division and get the answer in writing before a wall is ordered.
The Altos de Monterey overlay adds its own limits: front yard fences of 2 feet within a sight distance area and 3 feet elsewhere, side and rear fences of 6 feet, garden walls in front and street side setbacks of 36 inches and retaining walls of 6 feet, with multiple walls spaced apart by a distance equal to wall height.
Can I put a fence across the front of a historic South Pasadena home?
The City's guidelines lean against it. Its 2009 Residential Design Guidelines for historic homes say front yards should remain open to public view and free of fencing or hedges, and that historic retaining walls, curbs and stairs should be preserved. The Inventory of Cultural Resources lists 2,718 properties and district contributors, and the Cultural Heritage Commission, established in 1971, reviews exterior alterations to listed properties.
How many districts that touches depends on the source. The City's 2021 ADU guidelines for historic properties say South Pasadena has nine formally designated residential historic districts, while the Los Angeles Conservancy lists five, so ask Planning whether your address is on the Inventory instead of counting districts. The Conservancy also says the City offers the Mills Act property tax abatement, and a 2019 commission agenda we found treated a Mills Act contract as a list of work items, so ask whether a contract already covers your fence or wall. Even where no listing applies, the 3 foot cap in Table 3-2 is the ceiling for any front fence.
Who pays for a shared fence in South Pasadena, and what about protected trees?
Civil Code 841 presumes that adjoining owners share equally the reasonable cost of building, maintaining or replacing a fence that divides their properties, unless they agree otherwise in writing. An owner who plans such work must give each affected neighbor at least 30 days' written notice describing the problem, the proposed fix, the estimated cost, how it is shared and the timeline. The statute is posted on FindLaw.
Trees complicate post holes. Chapter 34 requires a permit to trim more than 10 percent of a protected tree's live foliage or to remove a protected tree of 12 inches in diameter at breast height or more, and the protected list includes oaks, sycamores, California bay laurel and toyon. We found no root rule in the text we read, so ask Public Works at publicworkspermits@southpasadenaca.gov or (626) 403-7240 before digging near a trunk. Tree penalties must also be paid before building permits issue.
How much does fence installation cost in South Pasadena?
We found no South Pasadena fence survey, so we use Los Angeles sources. Angi's Los Angeles page, updated August 4, 2026, shows $15 to $60 per linear foot and about $2,100 to $2,350 for 100 feet, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr give overlapping ranges, and a federal wage survey puts the Los Angeles area fence erector at a mean $28.00 an hour. Our working range from those sources is $25 to $55 per linear foot for a 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence and $35 to $85 for aluminum or ornamental iron, so a 100 foot backyard run lands near $2,500 to $5,500. For block walls we found no independent price source worth quoting, so none is printed.
Gates, old fence removal, slopes and walls change the number. Ask every proposal to list post spacing, footing depth, gate hardware, removal and any Design Review step as separate lines, and ask the fence subcontractor for a license number and certificate of insurance. Our license checking guide shows how to verify a number. California Business and Professions Code 7159 also requires a signed written contract, so keep the height, material, footing and permit steps in it rather than in a phone call.
Fence photos from South Pasadena and nearby communities
Seven fencing scenes tied to South Pasadena blocks and to nearby places such as Alhambra, San Marino and Highland Park, from open iron fronts to solid backyard runs and hillside walls.
Where these South Pasadena fence figures come from
The full table of fence prices and sources is on our fencing price page, and how general contractors use subcontractors explains who builds what. Fence work often sits next to other jobs, and the South Pasadena guides for them are the roofing page, the painting page and the kitchen remodeling page. To compare other cities, read the fencing guides for Glendale and Monterey Park.
| 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 South Pasadena
South Pasadena fence questions, answered
How much does it cost to have 100 feet of fence installed?
Roughly $2,500 to $5,500 for a 100 foot run of 6 foot wood or vinyl privacy fence, from our Los Angeles blend of Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr. Angi's Los Angeles page alone shows $2,100 to $2,350. Gates, removal, slopes and block walls change the number, and we found no South Pasadena survey.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in South Pasadena?
Possibly only zoning review. The Zoning Code text we read states no building permit rule for ordinary fences, the code mirror's exempt list covers wood and masonry fences up to 6 feet, and the City's 2015 booklet says fences of 6 feet or less need none. Screening walls need Design Review, so ask Planning about your fence.
What are the new fence rules in California in 2026?
No statewide fence change for 2026 could be verified, so none is named here. What governs a South Pasadena fence is local: the Table 3-2 heights, the chain link ban in front setbacks and Design Review for screening walls. The City's 2025 code update, Ordinance 2407, may change permit text, and we could not confirm its vote.
What is the maximum height for a backyard fence in South Pasadena?
Six feet in side and rear setbacks, and up to 8 feet by administrative approval. Height is measured from finished grade at the fence base, and the lower side governs when grade differs by more than 2 feet. Front and street side setbacks stop at 3 feet, and the hillside overlay has its own list.
Can I put up a 7 foot fence in South Pasadena?
Only with approval. The side and rear limit is 6 feet, so 7 feet falls in the band that needs administrative approval or an Administrative Modification, and that tool is not available on hillside lots. A front or street side fence stops at 3 feet, so a 7 foot fence belongs behind the front setback.
Does my 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 cost of a boundary fence, and an owner who plans to build must give 30 days' written notice first. The presumption can be rebutted, so talk to the neighbor and put any agreement in writing.
Can I replace my fence without my neighbor's permission in California?
Civil Code 841 asks for 30 days' written notice, not permission, before an owner incurs a shared cost. If the fence stands on your own land and you pay for it yourself, that notice duty is not the issue, but the height table and any review still apply. A survey settles where the line runs.
Is it cheaper to install a wood or vinyl fence?
Wood usually costs less at the low end, but the ranges overlap: Angi's national page, updated October 13, 2026, lists wood at $10 to $45 per foot and vinyl at $15 to $40. In South Pasadena the front height cap of 3 feet and any historic review can matter more than material cost.
What is the maximum height for hedges in South Pasadena?
A hedge in a required side setback is capped at 10 feet unless the Director approves more after finding it will not unduly limit light and views. The text we read gives no separate front yard hedge cap, though the Altos de Monterey overlay counts hedges like walls toward its 36 inch limit, so ask Planning.
What is the maximum height of a retaining wall without a permit?
The sources conflict. The code mirror's exempt list excludes retaining walls of 4 feet or less from the bottom of the footing unless they carry a surcharge, while the City's 2015 booklet says walls higher than 3 feet need a permit. Hillside lots cap walls at 6 feet, so ask the Building Division.
Get a fence plan for your South Pasadena lot
Tell us whether the fence is front, side or rear, whether the lot slopes and whether the house is on the historic inventory. We check the height table and the review steps before we call back.