Perris fence rules and permits

A plain-English guide for Perris, California homeowners. Always confirm with the city before work starts. Rules change.

Do you need a permit?

Depends. A city handout says a fence 6 feet or lower needs a site plan that shows it meets the height and setback rules. If it does, the Building Division can state that no building permit is required. Block walls are the most likely to need a full building permit, so ask first. Call the city with your height, material and length before you start.

Who to ask: City of Perris Development Services, Building & Safety Division, 135 N. D Street (website)

The rules

• A wall, fence or hedge 3 feet tall or less can go anywhere on a residential lot.
• In the front yard, a fence can be up to 5 feet tall, but the part above 3 feet must be at least 50 percent open.
• Behind the required front yard, fences can be up to 6 feet on interior and corner lots.
• Where a side or rear yard faces a public street, the code calls for a decorative block wall 6 feet high.
• On corner lots, keep a triangle clear with two 15 foot sides along the property lines. Nothing from 42 inches to 8 feet high can sit inside it.
• Residential fences cannot use barbed or razor wire, corrugated metal, plain exposed concrete, plywood or chain link.
• A pool barrier must be at least 72 inches high measured from the side away from the pool. The gap at the bottom can be 2 inches, or 4 inches over a hard surface.
• The city lists split-face masonry, stone, brick, stucco and treated wood as good fence and wall materials.

HOAs

Newer Perris tracts, like Villages of Avalon, have an HOA. Listings show monthly fees around $97 to $131. Get HOA approval in writing before you sign a fence contract.

Call before you dig

DigAlert (Southern California 811): dial 811. call at least 2 working days before digging, and no more than 14 calendar days ahead. The ticket lasts 28 days.

Local conditions

Perris has hot, dry summers and mild winters. The record high is 114 degrees and the record low is 12 degrees. Santa Ana winds blow most often from fall into early winter.

• Long, dry heat dries out wood. Stain and seal on a schedule.
• Santa Ana winds can push on tall solid fences, so posts and footings matter.
• Perris sits at about 1,453 feet. Frost is not a post-depth problem here.
• Heat can warp thin vinyl and fade cheap stain.
• Post depth and soil type: ask your contractor and the building office.

Good to know

• Perris was incorporated on May 26, 1911. It sits at about 1,453 feet.
• The 2020 census counted 78,700 people in Perris, up from 68,386 in 2010. The 2023 estimate was 80,603.
• Perris is known for Lake Perris. Mead Valley, Good Hope, Lakeview, Nuevo, Romoland and Woodcrest are communities around it.
• Villages of Avalon is a Perris community whose HOA lists a pool, spa, park, sports courts and a security patrol.
• Pools and spas are not allowed in the front yard setback on residential lots.
• The city takes permit applications online through its Accela portal.