Long Beach Corner Lot Fence and Sight-Triangle Regulations
In the City of Long Beach, fences, garden walls, and vegetation located within a designated "corner cutoff" area are strictly limited to a maximum height of three feet to maintain clear lines of sight for motorists and pedestrians. This sight-triangle is generally defined as a triangular area measuring 6 feet by 6 feet at the intersection of streets, alleys, or driveways, though specific definitions in the Long Beach Municipal Code allow for dimensions up to 10 feet by 10 feet. While standard residential front yard fences are capped at three feet, the City allows certain high-visibility materials like wrought iron or chain link to exceed this height in cutoff areas provided they do not obstruct safety visibility.
Sight-Triangle (Corner Cutoff) Requirements
The City of Long Beach utilizes the term "corner cutoff" to define the sight-triangle required for traffic safety. According to the Long Beach Municipal Code, a corner cutoff is the triangular area created by measuring from the corner of a lot along each property line or driveway and connecting those points [Section 21.15.660].
In all Long Beach residential and commercial districts, no structure or vegetation is permitted to be erected or allowed to grow within this cutoff in a manner that impedes visibility or accessibility up to a height of eight feet, except for approved fencing [Section 21.31.215.G, Section 21.32.240.B].
Corner Cutoff Dimensions and Height Limits
| Feature | Requirement | Applicable Sections |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Cutoff Area | 6 feet by 6 feet | [Section 21.31.215.G] |
| Maximum Cutoff Area | 10 feet by 10 feet | [Section 21.15.660] |
| General Height Limit | 3 feet maximum | [Table 43-1] |
| Visibility Exception | Chain link or wrought iron may exceed 3 feet if visibility is not obstructed | [Section 21.43.020] |
Fence and Garden Wall Height Limits
The City of Long Beach regulates fence heights based on their location on the lot and the specific zoning district. For corner lots, the "front" of the lot is defined as the shortest line separating the lot from an abutting street [Section 21.15.1150].
Long Beach Fence Height Standards by District
| Zone District | Location on Lot | Maximum Permitted Height |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | Front Yard | 3 feet |
| Residential | Side or Rear Yard | 6 feet 6 inches |
| Residential | Outside required yard area | 10 feet |
| Residential | Abutting an alley or flood control channel | 8 feet |
| Commercial/Industrial | Within required street frontage setback | 3 feet |
| Commercial/Industrial | Abutting a residential front yard | 3 feet |
| Commercial/Industrial | Abutting a residential side or rear yard | 8 feet |
| Commercial/Industrial | Other yard areas | 12 feet |
| All Districts | Corner Cutoff Area | 3 feet |
[Table 43-1]
Special Corner Lot Provisions
The City of Long Beach applies unique setback and yard requirements to specific types of corner lots to ensure neighborhood consistency and safety.
Key Lots and Reverse Corner Lots
- Key Lots: If a residential lot is a "key lot" (an interior lot positioned so its side property line abuts the rear property line of a corner lot), and the abutting corner lot is built to the side yard line, the required front yard of the key lot is reduced to one-half of the normal requirement [Section 21.31.215.C].
- Reverse Corner Lots: On a reversed corner lot, the required rear yard setback must be the same as the side yard setback [Section 21.31.215.D.1].
- Safety Standards: Fences in the City of Long Beach must be constructed of approved materials; barbed wire and similar sharp-edged materials are prohibited in all residential zones and only allowed in industrial zones when placed atop a fence at least six feet in height [Section 21.43.030].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.660 - Corner cutoff definition.
- Section 21.15.1150 - Front lot line definition.
- Section 21.31.215 - Residential yard requirements and corner cutoff applications.
- Section 21.32.240 - Commercial special development standards for corner cutoffs.
- Section 21.43.020 - Fence and garden wall height limits.
- Section 21.43.030 - Prohibited fence and wall materials.
- Table 43-1 - Fence and Garden Wall Height Limits.