A few things to consider before you install a fence in West Covina. These are general guidelines — always confirm current requirements with the City before you start.
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Front Yard Height
In the front setback a West Covina fence or wall can reach 6 feet, but everything above 42 inches must be at least 70 percent open, so solid privacy walls stop at 42 inches and the upper portion is wrought iron, picket, or a similar see-through design. Chain link is not allowed in any front yard or anywhere visible from the street on a residential lot.
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Side & Rear Yard Height
Between single-family lots, interior side and rear fences may go to 7 feet. The limit rises to 8 feet where a home backs onto commercial property, and side or rear lines along a principal or minor arterial may also reach 8 feet when the open-design standard is met. Any fence over 6 feet within 5 feet of a neighbor must be finished on the neighbor's side.
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When You Need a Permit
Fence standards sit in Chapter 26 of the Municipal Code, and the City applies the California Building Code for permits, so block walls, retaining walls, and any fence above the code exemption height should be cleared with the Building Division first. A retaining wall facing a neighbor may be up to 7 feet, and combined wall-plus-fence height is capped at 13 feet in side and rear yards. Barbed wire, razor wire, and electric fencing are banned in residential zones.
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Corner Lots & Sight Lines
Corner lots must keep a sight triangle clear: 30 feet along both property lines from the corner, plus 10-foot triangles on each side of every driveway and alley. Inside those triangles solid fences and walls max out at 36 inches, open-work fences at 42 inches, and hedges at 24 inches. A solid street-side fence is allowed only where no neighboring home faces that same street, and never on a reverse corner lot.
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 West Covina Community Development Department before you start. Have questions about your property?
Contact Legacy Fence and we'll help you sort it out.
Source: West Covina Municipal Code §§26-67, 26-76, 26-77 and 26-78; City of West Covina Community Development Department.
