A few things to consider before you install a fence in Chino. These are general guidelines — always confirm current requirements with the City before you start.
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Front Yard Height
Within the required front yard, Chino allows a wall or fence up to 3 feet, or 4 feet if the fence is open enough to pass at least 90 percent of light, such as picket or ornamental iron, with solid pilasters also capped at 4 feet. Chain link or wire mesh is prohibited wherever it would be visible from a street, and fences should be decorative masonry, ornamental steel or iron, or wood in colors that complement the house.
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Side & Rear Yard Height
Interior side and rear property lines take a 6-foot wall or fence, measured from the lower side where grades differ, and the Director may approve up to 8 feet where a slope would otherwise leave a wall under 5 feet or for noise and security reasons. Runs of 50 feet or more along a street need pilasters or 3- to 4-foot jogs, and barbed or razor wire is prohibited unless the Director finds it necessary for safety.
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When You Need a Permit
Chino amended the Building Code so only block walls and fences under 3 feet are exempt, which means essentially every privacy fence or block wall needs a building permit, and retaining walls need one at 18 inches or more. Fences must also be shown on plans and cleared through Planning for height and materials. Keep fences out of the public right-of-way and at least 3 feet from any fire hydrant.
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Corner Lots & Sight Lines
Chino does not set a fixed triangle in the Development Code; instead, within the corner cut-off area defined by the City Engineer's standard drawings nothing may rise above 3 feet measured from the nearest street pavement, including fences, walls, mature landscaping and other objects. On a corner lot, a wall along the street side may be built 18 inches inside the property line, with the strip between wall and sidewalk kept fully landscaped.
Good to Know
If your home is part of an HOA, check your community's CC&Rs before installing — many HOAs add their own material and height rules on top of the City's. Building a pool or spa? California's Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code §115922–115923) requires at least two independent, approved drowning-prevention features, such as a 60-inch enclosure. Fence codes can change, so we always recommend confirming current requirements with the Chino Community Development Department before you start. Have questions about your property?
Contact Legacy Fence and we'll help you sort it out.
Source: Chino Municipal Code §§20.10.080 and 15.04.180; City of Chino Community Development Department.
