Fence Installation in Alhambra, CA

Getting the Height Right the First Time

Alhambra's ordinance sets clear limits, and they differ by where the fence sits on your lot:

• Front yard: maximum 3 feet, measured from finished grade
• Within 5 feet of a street side property line: maximum 3 feet
• Side and rear yards: maximum 6 feet

The front yard limit catches people out. Most California cities allow 3.5 feet; Alhambra allows three. A fence ordered to a standard 42-inch panel height is already over the limit here before it comes off the truck.

The Design Review Board Step

This is what makes Alhambra different from most neighboring cities. Any front yard or street-side fence or wall requires an application reviewed by the Design Review Board, which can approve, conditionally approve, or deny it — and no front yard fence may be installed before that approval. Denials can be appealed to the Alhambra City Planning Commission.

There's also enforcement teeth: if the fence as built doesn't match the approved design, the inconsistency must be corrected within 20 days of written notice. If it isn't, the permit is revoked and the fence is deemed a nuisance and a code violation.

We design front yard fences to what the Board actually approves, and we prepare the drawings so your application isn't bounced back.

What a Site Plan Needs

The city asks for a site plan showing property lines, streets, and buildings, plus the location, length, height, and design of the proposed fence. A photograph of the property helps. We prepare this as part of the job rather than handing you a blank form.

Materials We Install

Wood, vinyl, wrought iron, aluminum, chain link, and masonry block. Each has real trade-offs in this climate — see the individual material pages for how they hold up to San Gabriel Valley sun, wind, and termite pressure.

A Note on Prohibited Materials

Barbed wire, razor wire, ultra-barrier, and electrified fencing are not permitted in Alhambra unless specifically required by law or a public agency. Industrial-district exceptions exist but require a separate approval process.

Licensing

California requires a CSLB-licensed contractor for any project over $500 in combined labor and materials. Fencing falls under the C-13 Fencing Contractor classification. You can verify any contractor's license status directly on the CSLB website before signing anything — we'd encourage you to do it for us and for anyone else you're considering.