Fence Companyin West Hollywood, CA
A fence company in West Hollywood builds to Municipal Code 19.20.050: solid front fences stop at 42 inches, fronts at least half open reach six feet, and side and rear fences reach six feet. Chain-link is banned. The City's exempt list says 6 feet and the state list says 7, so ask before you build.
Fences here mostly mark the edge of an apartment lot, not a tract house. The Census Bureau's 2024 five-year estimates count 26,079 housing units on 1.89 square miles, and 21,220 of them are in buildings of five or more units against 2,428 single-family detached houses. Those few house pockets carry the strictest fence rules: West Hollywood West and the Norma Triangle follow the R1-B zone with neighborhood design findings, and many Norma Triangle houses date from the 1920s.
On a fence job, MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) surveys the lot, checks the City's height and material rules and runs the schedule, and licensed subcontractors build it: a C-13 fencing contractor for wood, metal and vinyl, and a masonry contractor for block walls. Our fencing page has the sourced prices, the West Hollywood overview covers the other trades, and neighboring cities set their own limits, as the guides for Los Angeles and Santa Monica show.
What West Hollywood's Municipal Code says about fences and walls
Where fencing permits come from in West Hollywood: City of West Hollywood Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division.
- Municipal Code 19.20.050(C), residential districts: in a required front setback a solid fence or wall is limited to 42 inches, while a fence at least 50 percent transparent may reach six feet; in a required street side setback the limits are 42 inches solid and six feet if at least 50 percent transparent; in a required interior side or rear setback the limit is six feet; outside the required setbacks the limit is six feet.
- Solid walls or fences up to six feet may be allowed in a front setback facing a secondary highway or commercial site, and up to ten feet along a residential property line that borders a commercial zone or use, but only with Review Authority approval (19.20.050(C)); a solid decorative wall up to ten feet is allowed along commercial property lines in interior side and rear setbacks.
- 19.20.050(B) allows wood, masonry, decorative metal and other materials the Community Development Director approves, and bans chain-link and similar materials except as 19.20.050(E) allows (chain-link up to 90 days around vacant or abandoned property; longer at the Director's discretion on a permitted construction site). Wrought iron may not end at the top in outward curves, fences and walls must be painted or stained in a consistent color scheme, and perimeter fences must match on all sides.
- Fence height is measured from the highest ground level within two feet of either side of the fence (19.20.050(A)(1)). Hedges have no height limit but may not block driver or pedestrian sightlines, and the Director can require trimming (19.20.050 and 19.28.130(D)).
- Retaining walls up to six feet are allowed in all setbacks if their appearance fits the site, a fence may sit on top within the height limits, and a 42-inch open safety fence is allowed (19.20.050(F)). Under 19.20.150, retaining walls up to 42 inches are exempt from setbacks, walls of 42 inches to six feet may sit in a setback only if the exposed face looks into the parcel, and walls over six feet or facing outward follow the primary building setbacks.
- The City's Building & Safety exempt list, as reproduced on a third-party permit guide, covers 'fences and walls not over 6 feet high' and retaining walls not supporting more than 4 feet of earth (not exempt if supporting a surcharge); the guide says exempt work may still need Planning approval. The state list excerpted by Albany reads 'fences not over 7 feet high' and retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing, so West Hollywood's 6-foot figure is lower than the state default; ask Building & Safety which one applies.
- California Civil Code 841 presumes adjoining owners share equally the reasonable cost of building, maintaining or replacing a fence that divides their properties, and an owner who plans to spend money on it must give each affected neighbor 30 days' prior written notice with the problem, proposed fix, estimated costs, cost-sharing proposal and timeline.
- CSLB defines the C-13 Fencing classification as constructing, erecting, altering or repairing all types of fences, corrals, runs, railings, game court enclosures, guard rails, barriers, posts, flagpoles and gates, excluding masonry walls.
How tall can a fence be in a West Hollywood front, side or back yard?
Municipal Code 19.20.050(C) sets the limits, and the front yard is where owners are surprised. Height is measured from the highest ground level within two feet of either side of the fence under 19.20.050(A)(1), so a fence on a graded pad can read taller than the plan says. The text here comes from the GoCodebook mirror of the City's code, because the City's site and eCode360 returned errors to our tools, so confirm it with Planning.
Commercial neighbors change the picture. A solid fence up to six feet may be allowed in a front setback that faces a secondary highway or a commercial site, and up to ten feet along a residential line that borders a commercial zone or use, but only with Review Authority approval. For residential districts the standard limits are:
- Required front setback: 42 inches if solid, up to six feet if the fence is at least 50 percent transparent
- Required street side setback: 42 inches if solid, six feet if at least 50 percent transparent
- Required interior side or rear setback: six feet
- Outside the required setbacks: six feet
Hedges have no height limit, but they may not block driver or pedestrian sightlines, and the Director can require trimming.
Does fence installation in West Hollywood need a permit, and is the exemption 6 or 7 feet?
Probably not for a plain fence, but the two lists we found disagree. A third-party permit guide dated April 2026 reproduces the City's Building and Safety exempt list and shows fences and walls not over 6 feet high as exempt. The state model list, as excerpted by the City of Albany from the 2025 California codes, reads fences not over 7 feet. We could not confirm which figure West Hollywood applies, because the City's own pages were blocked to our tools, so ask Building and Safety whether a 7 foot fence needs a permit.
Exempt does not mean unreviewed. The same guide warns that exempt work may still need Planning approval, and Municipal Code 13.04.050 asks any permit applicant to show compliance with the zoning ordinance. A fence above the height table is outside the rules we read, so it is a question for Planning, not for the permit counter. Settle both questions in writing before the fence company orders posts.
A 6 foot answer and a 7 foot answer can be one board apart, so ask for it in writing.
Is chain-link allowed in West Hollywood, and what must a fence look like?
Chain-link is banned on residential fences, with narrow exceptions. Municipal Code 19.20.050(B) accepts wood, masonry, decorative metal and other materials the Community Development Director approves, and 19.20.050(E) allows chain-link only for up to 90 days around vacant or abandoned property, or longer at the Director's discretion on a permitted construction site.
Appearance rules follow. Wrought iron may not end at the top in outward curves, fences and walls must be painted or stained in a consistent color scheme, and a perimeter fence must match on all sides. In a mapped fire zone, the County plan review list also treats trellises, arbors and patio covers within 50 feet of a building as noncombustible, ignition-resistant or heavy timber items. We found no fence line in that list, so ask whether a gate arbor counts.
How high can a retaining wall be in West Hollywood, and can a fence sit on top?
Up to six feet in a setback, if it fits the site. Municipal Code 19.20.050(F) allows retaining walls up to six feet in all setbacks, a fence on top within the height limits and a 42 inch open safety fence. Section 19.20.150 adds that walls up to 42 inches are exempt from setbacks, walls from 42 inches to six feet may sit in a setback only if the exposed face looks into the parcel, and walls over six feet or facing outward follow the main building setbacks.
The permit line is a separate question. The City's exempt list, as the third-party guide shows it, covers retaining walls holding no more than 4 feet of earth and excludes any wall carrying a surcharge. The state text measures the same 4 feet from the bottom of the footing. Part of the Norma Triangle sits in the Hollywood Earthquake Fault Zone according to Wikipedia, and Building Code 13.04.070 lets the Building Official require a geologist's investigation, so ask about a tall wall on that hillside before designing it.
Who pays for a shared fence in West Hollywood, and what if the building is historic?
Often both owners, but only after notice. California Civil Code 841 presumes adjoining owners share equally the reasonable cost of building, maintaining or replacing a fence on their boundary, and an owner who plans to spend money must give each neighbor 30 days' written notice that names the problem, the proposed fix, the estimated cost, the cost split and the timeline. In an apartment district, the neighbor is often a company or an association, so the letter should reach the manager as well as the building.
History adds a reviewer. A designated resource needs a certificate of appropriateness to alter its exterior, and the Director can approve fences replaced in kind as minor work under Municipal Code 19.58.100(B)(4). In West Hollywood West, a development permit needs a 'Quality Materials and Details' finding, and the City's Norma Triangle guidelines date from January 23, 2017. We did not read what either says about fences, so ask Planning before choosing a style on a historic street.
When can a fence crew work in West Hollywood, and what about wind and termites?
Not on weekends. Municipal Code 9.08.050 allows construction on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., limits Saturdays to interior work and bars Sundays and ten listed holidays, so a post-setting day belongs to Monday through Friday. A debris control plan approved by the Director of Public Works must also be in place before work starts, and trades that use water, such as footing concrete, need a dyked or excavated work area.
Two outdoor risks deserve a line in the proposal. The National Weather Service forecast for Los Angeles and Oxnard in October 2026 called for valley and coast gusts of 35 to 55 miles an hour, and we did not research how deep posts should go for solid panels, so ask the fence company to explain its footing depth. UC Integrated Pest Management says drywood termites are most prevalent in southern California and infest fences, and advises termite-resistant wood or concrete footers where wood meets soil.
How much does a fence cost in West Hollywood, and who builds it?
We found no West Hollywood price survey, so we use Los Angeles sources. Angi's August 4, 2026 page for the city shows $15 to $60 a foot, a typical whole job of $1,734 to $4,422 and gates at $150 to $2,000. HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr overlap that spread, and a federal wage survey puts the area's fence erector at a mean $28.00 an hour against $37.79 for carpenters. From those we plan about $25 to $55 per linear foot installed for a six foot wood or vinyl privacy fence, $35 to $85 for aluminum or ornamental iron and about $2,500 to $5,500 for a 100 foot run. For block walls we found no independent price source worth trusting, so none is printed here.
Roles matter. CSLB's C-13 fencing class covers fences, railings, gates and posts but excludes masonry walls, which belong to a masonry contractor, and our contractor license guide shows the lookup. California's contract rules cap a down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less, and let an unlicensed person take a job only under $1,000 when no worker is hired and no permit is needed. We found no West Hollywood fence permit fee, so we print none.
Fence photos from West Hollywood and nearby communities
Fencing scenes tied to West Hollywood lots and to nearby places such as Beverly Grove, the Fairfax District and Hancock Park, from open iron fronts and cedar privacy runs to hillside steps and gates.
Where these West Hollywood fence figures come from
Every fence price and its source is in the table on our fencing price page, and our guide to how general contractors use subcontractors explains who builds what. A new fence often comes with other work, and the West Hollywood rules for it are on the roofing page, the painting page and the kitchen remodeling page. For another city's height table to compare, read the fencing guides for Glendale, Pasadena and Culver City.
| 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 West Hollywood
West Hollywood fence questions, answered
How much do fencing contractors cost?
About $25 to $55 per linear foot installed for a six foot wood or vinyl privacy fence, and $35 to $85 for aluminum or ornamental iron, using our synthesis of Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr for Los Angeles. We found no West Hollywood survey. Gates, old fence removal, slopes and block walls change the number, so a written proposal is the real price.
Do I need a permit to build a fence in West Hollywood?
Maybe not for a plain fence, but ask. The City's exempt list, as a third-party guide reproduces it, covers fences and walls not over 6 feet, while the state list says 7 feet, and we could not confirm which applies. Planning approval and zoning compliance can still be required, and a fence above the height table is a question for Planning.
What are the new fence rules in California in 2026?
We could not verify a statewide fence change for 2026, so we will not name one. What governs a West Hollywood fence is local: Municipal Code 19.20.050 on heights and materials, the permit exemption on the City's list and, in a mapped fire zone, the County checklist for trellises and arbors. Check each with the City.
What is the maximum height for a backyard fence in West Hollywood?
Six feet in a required interior side or rear setback, and six feet outside the required setbacks, under Municipal Code 19.20.050(C). Along a residential line that borders a commercial use, up to ten feet may be allowed, but only with Review Authority approval. That text is from the GoCodebook mirror, so confirm it with Planning.
Can I put up a 7ft fence?
Not under the height table we read. Municipal Code 19.20.050(C) stops side and rear fences at six feet, and ten feet is possible only along a commercial line with Review Authority approval. The state permit exemption says 7 feet and the City's reproduced list says 6, which is a separate permit question, not a height allowance.
Can I put a privacy fence in my front yard?
Not a solid one. A solid fence or wall in a required front setback stops at 42 inches, while a fence that is at least 50 percent transparent may reach six feet. A street side setback follows the same two limits. Chain-link is not an alternative, because the code bans it on residential fences.
Does my neighbor have to pay for half the fence in California?
Usually in part, but not automatically. Civil Code 841 presumes adjoining owners share the reasonable cost of a boundary fence equally, and an owner who plans to spend money must give 30 days' written notice with the proposed fix, the cost estimate and a cost split. A neighbor can rebut the presumption, so put any deal in writing.
Is chain-link allowed in West Hollywood?
Only in narrow cases. Municipal Code 19.20.050 bans chain-link and similar materials except for up to 90 days around vacant or abandoned property, or longer at the Director's discretion on a permitted construction site. Wood, masonry and decorative metal are the accepted materials, and wrought iron may not end in outward curves at the top.
What is the maximum height for hedges in West Hollywood?
There is no height limit, but hedges may not block driver or pedestrian sightlines. Municipal Code 19.20.050 and 19.28.130(D) let the Community Development Director require trimming. Keep any hedge clear of driveways and corners, and ask Planning how it treats a hedge in a front setback.
Is it cheaper to install a wood or a vinyl fence?
Wood usually starts lower. On Angi's national page, updated October 13, 2026, wood runs $10 to $45 per foot and vinyl $15 to $40, so the two ranges overlap. Because drywood termites infest fences in southern California, ask a wood proposal to name the termite-resistant lumber or concrete footers it uses.
Get a fence plan for your West Hollywood lot
Send the cross streets, whether the fence is front, side or rear and whether the lot touches a commercial property. We check the height table, the permit exemption question and the overlay rules before we call back.