Question:
I live in the second house of a 4 house private street. We all share a common driveway. My neighbor at the above address built a 7-8 foot concrete wall dividing our properties. It has created a huge blind spot for the back 3 houses. Is there a height limit? Also, my understanding is that this wall is called a return wall. It ends at my garage wall and turns in onto my property and meets my garage. At the other end of my garage, a 3 ft. wall existed. This wall was extended up to approx. 7 feet and another return wall meets the back end of my garage wall. I have no access to my garage wall or the full perimeter of my property. It is now a part of my neighbors back yard. Is a permit required for this? What can be done to regain access to the full perimeter of my property. Also, this wall was built on the 3 gas lines of the back houses including mine. How can I find out that this wall was built correctly on top of our gas lines? Thank you.
Answer:
In the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County a freestanding fence or block wall may be constructed up to a height of six (6) feet without a permit. Therefore, a 7-8 foot concrete wall requires a permit and inspection from the Department of Public Works Building and Safety Division. Also, the Department of Regional Planning does have restrictions on the location and height of fences. Please contact the District field office below to speak to a Regional Planning representative regarding the specifics of your property.
The Los Angeles County plumbing code does not restrict the construction of a concrete fence over gas lines, but if the lines mentioned are upstream of the service meter please contact the Gas Company to verify the installation satisfies their requirements.
San Gabriel Valley District Field Office
125 S. Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 574-0941
Links:
Regional Planning Zoning Enforcement
Gas Company
I live in the second house of a 4 house private street. We all share a common driveway. My neighbor at the above address built a 7-8 foot concrete wall dividing our properties. It has created a huge blind spot for the back 3 houses. Is there a height limit? Also, my understanding is that this wall is called a return wall. It ends at my garage wall and turns in onto my property and meets my garage. At the other end of my garage, a 3 ft. wall existed. This wall was extended up to approx. 7 feet and another return wall meets the back end of my garage wall. I have no access to my garage wall or the full perimeter of my property. It is now a part of my neighbors back yard. Is a permit required for this? What can be done to regain access to the full perimeter of my property. Also, this wall was built on the 3 gas lines of the back houses including mine. How can I find out that this wall was built correctly on top of our gas lines? Thank you.
Answer:
In the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County a freestanding fence or block wall may be constructed up to a height of six (6) feet without a permit. Therefore, a 7-8 foot concrete wall requires a permit and inspection from the Department of Public Works Building and Safety Division. Also, the Department of Regional Planning does have restrictions on the location and height of fences. Please contact the District field office below to speak to a Regional Planning representative regarding the specifics of your property.
The Los Angeles County plumbing code does not restrict the construction of a concrete fence over gas lines, but if the lines mentioned are upstream of the service meter please contact the Gas Company to verify the installation satisfies their requirements.
San Gabriel Valley District Field Office
125 S. Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 574-0941
Links:
Regional Planning Zoning Enforcement
Gas Company