West Covina Height Limits Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

West Covina's zoning code regulates fence and wall heights to balance property owners' privacy needs with neighborhood aesthetics and public safety. In all residential zones (R-1 single-family through R-3 multi-family), fences and walls located within the required front yard setback area are limited to 3 feet in height if constructed of solid materials such as block, wood, or vinyl panels. Open or semi-open designs that allow visibility — such as wrought iron, tubular steel, or traditional picket fences — may be up to 4 feet tall in the front setback area. The distinction incentivizes designs that maintain an open streetscape while still allowing property delineation.

Along side property lines and in rear yards, fences and walls may be up to 6 feet in height. This applies to both solid and open fence styles. Where a retaining wall is necessary due to grade differences between adjacent properties, the combined height of the retaining wall plus any fence or wall on top of it must not exceed 8 feet as measured from the lower finished grade. The retaining wall itself is measured from finished grade on the low side, and the fence is measured from finished grade on the high side. Property owners should verify grade measurements with the Building Division before construction.

Corner lots and properties adjacent to intersections are subject to additional sight triangle requirements. Within the triangular area formed by the intersection of two street property lines and a diagonal line connecting points typically 25 feet back from the corner, no fence, wall, hedge, or structure may exceed 3 feet in height. This ensures adequate visibility for vehicles and pedestrians approaching the intersection. Violations of sight triangle requirements are treated as safety hazards and may require immediate correction. Contact the Planning Division at (626) 939-8430 for height verification and questions about specific lot configurations.