What's Required in Long Beach
- No building permit for wood, vinyl, chain-link or wrought-iron fences up to 6 ft 6 in (code text says 7 ft) or masonry walls up to 4 ft; taller fences and walls need one (LBMC 18.04.020.B.4)
- Zoning height caps apply to every fence: 3 ft front yard, 6 ft 6 in other required yards, 8 ft abutting an alley, nonresidential use or major arterial, 10 ft outside required yards, 3 ft in corner cutoffs (Table 43-1)
- Height is measured from the public right-of-way side for street fences and from the average grade of both sides between private lots
- Barbed wire or sharp protruding materials are prohibited in residential zones; gates may not swing over public property
- Block walls over 4 ft may use the IB-009 standard details up to 6 ft 6 in; foundation, pre-grout and final inspections
- Walls on the common property line need a notarized FORM-013 agreement from adjoining owners, or a lot survey
- Dimensioned plot plan (FORM-028) required; Certificate of Appropriateness in historic districts
- Electrical permit for gate openers or fence lighting; call DigAlert 811 two working days before digging
How Tall Can a Fence Be Without a Permit in Long Beach?
Two different limits apply, and the lower one wins. The building code exemption in LBMC 18.04.020.B.4 covers fences of wood, vinyl, chain link, wrought iron and similar materials up to 7 feet, and walls of concrete, masonry, brick or heavy timber up to 4 feet; the Building and Safety Bureau's handouts state the non-masonry line as 6 feet 6 inches, which matches the zoning cap. Zoning Table 43-1 limits residential fences to 3 feet in the front yard, 6 feet 6 inches in other required yards, 8 feet where a rear or side line abuts an alley, a nonresidential use or a major arterial, and 10 feet outside required yard areas, with a 3-foot cap in the corner cutoff area. In the special fence height area designated by Council the front yard may go to 4 feet if the extra foot is wrought iron or chain link, and in high-crime areas a taller front fence needs an administrative use permit. Height is measured from the sidewalk side for a street fence and from the average grade of both sides between neighbors. Barbed wire is prohibited in residential zones, and gates may not swing over the sidewalk. BU-041 says Planning review of location, height and material is required in all cases.
Long Beach Fence Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Wood, vinyl, chain-link or wrought iron fence up to 6 ft 6 in in a side or rear yard | None (Planning height and location rules still apply) | LBMC 18.04.020.B.4; Do I Need a Permit page |
| Any fence in the front yard taller than 3 ft | Not allowed; 4 ft only in the special fence height area with an open top foot, or by administrative use permit | LBMC Table 43-1 notes (b), (f) |
| Concrete, masonry or brick wall over 4 ft | Building permit; IB-009 standard details cover walls to 6 ft 6 in | LBMC 18.04.020.B.4; IB-009 |
| Wood or metal fence over 6 ft 6 in, up to 8 ft along an alley, nonresidential use or major arterial | Building permit with over-the-counter plan review | IB-002; Table 43-1 |
| Fence or wall built on the shared property line | Notarized FORM-013 agreement with the neighbor, or a lot survey | BU-041; IB-009 |
| Automatic gate opener or lights on the fence | Electrical permit | BU-041 |
| Property in a historic district or on a landmark | Certificate of Appropriateness before any permit | BU-041 |
How Much Does a Fence Permit Cost in Long Beach?
When a permit is required it is priced on valuation. IB-077 sets a minimum valuation per lineal foot of 6-foot-6 fence or wall: $42.25 for wood, chain link or wire, $123.50 for wrought iron or stuccoed wood, $146.25 for concrete and $195 for masonry block. The building permit fee is $101 for the first $500 of value plus $3 per $100 to $2,000, then $149 plus $16 per $1,000 to $20,000. Plan check is 85 percent of the permit fee with a $154 minimum, the zoning plan check is 0.5 percent of valuation with a $310 minimum but no more than 95 percent of the building plan check, and every application adds a $115 processing fee, state fees of $0.13 per $1,000 plus $1, and a records fee of 5 percent of the permit fee with a $35 minimum.
Worked examples: a 60-foot, 6-foot block wall is valued at 60 x $195 = $11,700, so the permit is $149 + (10 x $16) = $309, plan check $263, zoning plan check $250, and the total is about $975. A 40-foot, 8-foot wood fence along an alley is valued at $1,690, so the permit is $137, plan check the $154 minimum, zoning plan check $146, and the bill is about $590. Block walls following the IB-009 standard details up to 6 feet 6 inches need no engineer; they get foundation, pre-grout and final inspections. The City Council approved a new fee schedule on September 8, 2026, effective October 1, 2026; check the posted schedule after that date.
Property Lines, Utilities and Who Files
If the wall or its footing sits on the common property line, the city wants a Common Property Line Wall/Fence Agreement (FORM-013) signed and notarized by every adjoining owner before it issues the permit, and it may ask for a lot survey; a wall entirely inside your property needs neither. Call DigAlert at 811 at least two full working days before digging post holes. Fence and wall permits use FORM-028, a dimensioned plot plan showing the fence relative to buildings and property lines. Fence walls of 6 feet 6 inches or more are reviewed over the counter by Planning and Building at an in-person appointment. The permit is issued to a CSLB-licensed contractor with a Long Beach business license or to the homeowner of a one- or two-family home under IB-029, and it is void if work has not started within 90 days.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Long Beach
Check the height limit for each yard
Front yard 3 ft, side and rear 6 ft 6 in, alley or arterial lines 8 ft. A wood or iron fence within those limits needs no building permit; masonry over 4 ft always does.
Settle the property line
If the fence or footing is on the line, get FORM-013 signed and notarized by each neighbor or order a survey. Call 811 at least two working days before digging.
Draw a plot plan
Complete FORM-028 showing the fence relative to buildings and property lines; for block walls use the IB-009 standard details or engineered drawings.
Apply at the Permit Center
Fence walls over 6 ft 6 in and block walls are reviewed over the counter by Planning and Building at an in-person appointment; bring APP-001 and PDFs on a USB drive.
Pay and build with inspections
Expect about $975 for a 60-foot block wall or $590 for an 8-foot wood fence. Block walls get foundation, pre-grout and final inspections requested online by 3 p.m. the day before.