Fence Companyin Whittier, CA
A fence company in Whittier works to height caps set by lot width: 36 inches in a front yard on lots 60 feet wide or less, 6 feet in side and rear yards. The code exempts fences up to 18 inches from a building permit, but the City says a new fence needs one.
Whittier's fences mostly enclose the yards of single-family houses, which are 62.8 percent of its 31,200 housing units in the Census Bureau's 2024 one-year estimates, and 37.1 percent of all units date from the 1950s tract boom. Another 41.1 percent of households rent, so the person asking for a quote may be a landlord rather than the family that will live behind the fence. The front yard height cap here depends on how wide the lot is, so measure the frontage before shopping for styles.
On a fence job, MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) handles the plan, the permit questions and the schedule as general contractor, and a licensed fencing subcontractor builds it. Block walls go to a masonry specialist. Sourced prices are on our fencing page, the Whittier overview lists every trade we manage here, and a neighbor to the south-west has its own rules in Norwalk. The City's own summary is its page on residential walls and fences.
What Whittier's zoning and building codes say about fences
Where fencing permits come from in Whittier: City of Whittier Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division.
- Section 105.2 of the City's administrative provisions exempts walls or fences not over 18 inches high from a building permit (walls supporting a surcharge are not exempt). The Planning page on residential walls and fences says a new or reconstructed fence, wall or retaining wall on residentially zoned property requires a Building Permit, with a fee based on project valuation, so a fence taller than 18 inches should be treated as permitted.
- A new front yard fence or a street side or side yard fence, wall or retaining wall on residentially zoned property needs a Development Review Application to the Planning Division, and a front yard or street side fence must fit the City's fence palette. The City amended its walls and fences rules to allow over-the-counter approval of palette-conforming fences, and Planning takes palette-conforming fences on level grade through the online portal.
- Front yard fences on Whittier residential lots must be non-view obscuring and are capped by lot width: 36 inches on lots 60 feet wide or less, 42 inches on lots 61 to 99 feet wide, and 5 feet 6 inches on lots 100 feet wide or more, with no setback from the property line (Municipal Code 18.10.030(D) and Table 18.10.030(D)). Gates and decorative pilasters may exceed the maximum by up to 6 inches if in scale.
- Chain-link fences are not permitted in the front or street side yard of any residentially zoned lot (Municipal Code 18.10.030(D)(7)), except as the City's vacant lot ordinance allows.
- Street side and side-yard-on-the-street fences are limited to 36 inches, except on a standard corner lot where a 6-foot fence or wall is allowed if a landscaped setback at least 4 feet wide is kept along its whole length, and on a reversed corner lot where a 6-foot fence or wall must be set back at least 5 feet and landscaped (Table 18.10.030(D)).
- No fence, wall, retaining wall, other structure or landscaping may exceed 42 inches within the 5-foot by 5-foot vision triangle where a driveway meets the street right-of-way or an alley (Municipal Code 18.10.030(D)(3)).
- Interior side yard and rear yard fences, walls and retaining walls are limited to 6 feet with no setback, and the rear fence may go to 8 feet, with design review approval by the Director, when the rear lot adjoins an alley, a commercial or manufacturing zone or use, or the Greenway Trail. A fence, wall or retaining wall outside the yard setbacks in the interior of a lot is limited to 6 feet unless a minor conditional use permit is approved.
- Retaining walls in a front yard are limited to 36 inches (42 inches on a lot above street grade, set back 4 feet from the wall below), and on a lot below street grade a retaining wall up to 6 feet is allowed within 4 feet of the front property line only if it is not visible from the street, set back 4 feet, with a non-view-obscuring safety fence on top, and the combination may not exceed 8 feet (Table 18.10.030(D) and 18.10.030(D)(2)(d)).
Does fence installation in Whittier need a permit, and who decides?
Two City sources point in different directions, so treat any fence over 18 inches as permitted. Section 105.2 of the administrative code exempts walls or fences not over 18 inches high from a building permit, but the Planning page says a new or reconstructed fence, wall or retaining wall on residentially zoned property needs a Building Permit, with a fee based on project valuation. We found no dollar figure for it and print none. The office is Building & Safety.
Planning adds a step. A new front yard fence, or a street side or side yard fence, wall or retaining wall, needs a Development Review Application, and Planning takes fences that follow the City's design palette on level grade through its online portal. The City amended its rules to allow over-the-counter approval of palette-conforming fences, which makes a palette fence the fast path.
For anything outside the palette the sources disagree on who decides. Municipal Code 18.10.030(D)(1) sends design exceptions to the design review board, while the City's walls and fences page says the Planning Commission. Ask Planning which body hears your request before paying for drawings.
Ask the counter in writing whether the fence you drew is palette-conforming before anyone orders material.
How tall can a front yard fence be in Whittier?
Front yard fences must be non-view-obscuring and are capped by lot width: 36 inches on lots 60 feet wide or less, 42 inches on lots 61 to 99 feet wide and 5 feet 6 inches on lots 100 feet wide or more (Municipal Code 18.10.030(D)). No setback from the property line is required, and gates and decorative pilasters may rise up to 6 inches above the cap if they stay in scale.
A solid wood or vinyl privacy panel therefore cannot stand in the front yard. Chain-link is not permitted in the front or street side yard of any residential lot (18.10.030(D)(7)), except where the City's vacant lot ordinance allows it.
Whether a given picket spacing or iron pattern counts as non-view-obscuring is a Planning call, so get it in writing. Landscape planters up to 18 inches high fall outside the wall and fence section altogether.
What are the fence rules on a Whittier corner lot or beside a driveway?
Street side fences are limited to 36 inches, with two exceptions in Table 18.10.030(D). On a standard corner lot a 6 foot fence or wall is allowed if a landscaped setback at least 4 feet wide runs its whole length, and on a reversed corner lot a 6 foot fence or wall must be set back at least 5 feet and landscaped.
Where a driveway meets the street or an alley, nothing may exceed 42 inches inside a 5 foot by 5 foot vision triangle, and that limit covers fences, walls, retaining walls, other structures and plants (18.10.030(D)(3)). A tall gate post or a hedge counts.
Fences between neighboring driveways are not permitted when the driveways are narrower than the code's standard widths, which are 10 feet for one single-family home, 12 feet for two units, 18 feet for three or more and 15 feet when the driveway is over 100 feet long, except behind the back of the house. A 6 foot fence between driveways is allowed only with a landscaped strip at least 3 feet wide between each driveway and the property line.
What are the side yard, rear yard and pool fence rules in Whittier?
Interior side and rear yard fences, walls and retaining walls are limited to 6 feet with no setback. The rear fence may rise to 8 feet, with design review approval by the Director, when the rear lot adjoins an alley, a commercial or manufacturing zone or use, or the Greenway Trail. A fence outside the yard setbacks in the interior of a lot is limited to 6 feet unless a minor conditional use permit is approved.
Along the Greenway Trail, fences and walls may reach 8 feet, or 10 feet if the residential grade is lower than the trail. They must be decorative concrete block or stucco block in earth tones with the decorative side facing the trail, need an engineered design before a building permit, and the owner keeps them up and removes graffiti. Rear walls along the trail must be at least 6 feet high.
A pool enclosure may have a non-view-obscuring fence of 6 feet in the side or rear setback, and the height limits may rise to allow a required five-foot pool safety enclosure. Pools and spas go through the City's online Development Review Counter under chapter 15.13, the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Health and Safety Code 115922 requires two drowning-prevention features on a new or remodeled pool. We did not read the barrier height section, so ask the inspector for the number.
How do fence and retaining wall rules change on a sloped Whittier lot?
Height is measured against a wall as well as a fence, so a retaining wall under a fence counts toward the total. In a front yard, a retaining wall is limited to 36 inches, or 42 inches on a lot above street grade if it is set back 4 feet from the wall below. On a lot below street grade, a retaining wall up to 6 feet may stand within 4 feet of the front property line only if it is not visible from the street, is set back 4 feet and carries a non-view-obscuring safety fence, and the combination may not exceed 8 feet.
Between neighbors, where the adjoining lot sits higher, an owner may build a retaining wall up to 6 feet facing the lower neighbor, finished in the City's approved retaining wall palette or another material the director accepts. A lower lot may build a combined retaining wall and fence up to 8 feet along the interior property line, only behind the front yard setback and with the top fence no more than 6 feet above the neighbor's grade (18.10.030(D)(4)). A retaining wall that carries a surcharge is not covered by the 18 inch permit exemption.
Land on the City's 1979 hillside maps is the H-R zone, where a hillside development plan, a soils and geologic report and grading limits come before any building permit. We found nothing saying whether a fence alone triggers that plan, so ask Planning for a hillside lot in the Puente Hills.
Who pays for a shared fence in Whittier, and what changes in a historic district?
California presumes that neighbors share the cost of a boundary fence. Civil Code 841 makes that presumption rebuttable and asks for 30 days' written notice before one owner incurs costs. A fence that has stood for decades may not sit on the recorded line, so stakes from a licensed land surveyor settle the question before a neighbor does.
In Whittier's four historic districts the City's code gives fences their own waiver. Municipal Code 18.84.180 lets the Historic Resources Commission's Secretary waive the certificate of appropriateness for side and rear yard fences, and for front yard fence demolition, alteration or reconstruction, when appearance does not change significantly or period features are restored. Anything else needs the certificate, and no permit is issued until one of them is in hand.
College Hills lists retaining walls on Bryn Mawr Way, Glen Court, Hillside Lane, Philadelphia Street and Worsham Drive among its contributing resources, so those walls are part of the district's record, not just yard structures.
How much does fence installation cost in Whittier, and how do you hire a fence company?
We found no Whittier fence survey, so the numbers here are regional. Angi's August 2026 page for Los Angeles puts an average job at $3,051, within a range of $1,734 to $4,422. Weighing Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr together, installed wood or vinyl privacy fence runs about $25 to $55 per linear foot, chain-link about $12 to $30 and aluminum or ornamental iron about $35 to $85. A 100 foot backyard run lands near $2,500 to $5,500. Federal wage data puts fence erectors in the Los Angeles area at a mean $28.00 an hour, which checks labor but is not a billing rate.
Block walls have no independent per-foot source, so we print none. The Greenway Trail rule matters here, because a reinforced block wall with an engineered design costs more than a wood panel and the engineering is a separate line.
Fencing is CSLB class C-13, which excludes masonry walls, and block walls belong to C-29 masonry. Our license check guide shows how to read the record, and how general contractors use subcontractors explains MDG's role. On an MDG job you can ask for the fencing subcontractor's license number and proof of insurance before signing.
Fence photos from Whittier and nearby communities
Six fence and gate scenes tied to Whittier areas such as East Whittier and Friendly Hills and to nearby communities like La Mirada and Pico Rivera, from picket fronts to privacy panels and hillside runs.
Where the Whittier fence figures come from
Our fencing price page lists every source behind the per-foot ranges and the method. Fences often go in after a new roof or a repaint, so see roof repair in Whittier and house painting in Whittier, and compare how Downey, West Covina and El Monte handle the same questions.
| 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 |
Whittier fence questions, answered
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Whittier?
Plan on yes above 18 inches. The administrative code exempts fences not over 18 inches, but the City's Planning page says a new fence needs a Building Permit, and front, street side and side yard fences also need a Development Review Application. Call (562) 567-9320 for your lot, and in a historic district expect a certificate or waiver first.
What is the maximum height for a backyard fence in Whittier?
Six feet for interior side and rear yards, with no setback. The rear fence may reach 8 feet with Director design review approval when the lot backs onto an alley, a commercial or manufacturing zone or use, or the Greenway Trail. Along the trail itself, walls may reach 8 feet, or 10 feet if your grade is lower.
Can I put up a 7ft fence in Whittier?
Generally not. Interior side and rear yard fences are limited to 6 feet. Seven feet would need an exception, and the sources disagree on who hears it: the code says the design review board, the City's page says the Planning Commission. The 8 foot rear case applies only to alley, commercial, manufacturing and Greenway Trail edges.
Can I build a chain-link fence in my Whittier front yard?
No. Municipal Code 18.10.030(D)(7) bars chain-link in the front or street side yard of any residentially zoned lot, except where the City's vacant lot ordinance allows it. Front yard fences must also be non-view-obscuring and no taller than 36, 42 or 66 inches depending on lot width.
Does my neighbor have to pay for half the fence in California?
Usually the cost is presumed to be shared. Civil Code 841 treats neighbors as benefiting equally from a boundary fence, the presumption can be rebutted, and the owner who wants the work gives 30 days' written notice before incurring costs. Whittier's height and design rules still apply to what you both build.
How much does 200 ft of fencing cost in Whittier?
Roughly $5,000 to $11,000 for wood or vinyl privacy fence, using the regional range of $25 to $55 per installed linear foot from Angi, HomeGuide, Thumbtack and Fixr. We found no Whittier survey. Gates, old fence removal, slopes and permit fees move the total, so the written proposal is the real number.
How much do fencing contractors cost in Whittier?
Regionally, wood or vinyl privacy fence runs about $25 to $55 per installed linear foot, chain-link $12 to $30 and aluminum or iron $35 to $85. Angi's Los Angeles page shows an average job of $3,051. We found no Whittier price survey, so compare two written proposals that list footage, height, gates and removal.
Can I install my own fence in Whittier?
Yes, an owner of residential property may take out the permit, according to the City's plan-check page, but the same height, palette and review rules apply. A fence over 18 inches is treated as permitted, and a retaining wall under it needs its own care. Hiring a fence company mainly buys correct post depth and a clean inspection.
What are the new fence rules in California in 2026?
We could not verify any new statewide fence rule for 2026. A state ember-resistant rule called Zone 0 appeared in reports with conflicting status, so we do not rely on it. The rules that bind a Whittier fence today are the City's height caps, palette and permit steps described on this page.
How do I choose a fence company for fence installation in Whittier?
Check that the company holds CSLB class C-13 for wood, vinyl and metal, or C-29 for block, and look the number up on the CSLB site. Ask who files the permit and the Planning application, and get a written contract showing footage, height, gate hardware and who removes the old fence.
Ask for a fence estimate in Whittier
Give us the street, the lot width if you know it and which side of the lot the fence is on. We check the height cap, the palette and any slope or historic district question before we reply.