Fencing (C-13) · Lesson 5 of 6

Gates: Gate Posts, Width Limits, and California Building Code Gate Rules

"Gates: Gate Posts, Width Limits, and California Building Code Gate Rules" is lesson 5 of 6 in the Fencing (C-13) Learning Hub. It opens with "Gate Posts Are Bigger Than Line Posts" and works through 5 short steps, then a worked example you can check yourself against.

Open the free trialSee pricing

One-time purchase, no subscription. Law & Business included.

Steps in this lesson

  1. Gate Posts Are Bigger Than Line Posts
  2. Width Limits and Gate Details
  3. Walk Gates on an Accessible Route
  4. Hardware, Force, and Clearances
  5. Gates in Egress and Powered Vehicle Gates

The worked example in the course applies this lesson to a realistic job in 5 steps, from "Gate post table" through "Walk gate on the accessible route".

What you'll be able to do

  • Explain the main idea of "Gates: Gate Posts, Width Limits, and California Building Code Gate Rules" in plain language you can use on the exam.
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Walk Gates on an Accessible Route".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Hardware, Force, and Clearances".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Gates in Egress and Powered Vehicle Gates".
  • Test yourself on the worked example and the quick-check quiz inside the classroom.
Gate Posts and Gate RulesCaltrans A85 gate post table plus California Building Code gate sectionsVEHICLE GATE, 6 FT SLATTED FENCE4.50 in. OD gate postsgate leaf 10 ft (12 ft max)GRADE2 in. clearD = 42 in.(3 ft 6 in.)B = 14 in.Not to scaleTHE NUMBERS AND THE CODEGate post table (A85), 6 ft slatted:4.50 in. OD, B = 14 in., D = 3 ft 6 in.Width rule: 3 x 4.50 = 13.5 in.OKLeaf 10 ft: under the 12 ft maximumOver 8 ft: vertical stay requiredWalk gate on an accessible route:Clear width: 32 in. min (11B-404.2.3)Latch and pull: 34 to 44 in. highOpening force: 5 lb max, exteriorPowered gate (CBC 3110): ASTM F2200construction, opener listed to UL 325RESULT: 4.50 in. posts, 14 in. x 3 ft 6 in. footings, vertical staySource: 2025 Caltrans Std Plan A85 (p. 155); 2025 CBC §11B-404.2.3, 404.2.7, 404.2.9 (pp. 48-52), §3110 (p. 12).CC
The diagram for this lesson, exactly as it appears in the Learning Hub.

The first steps of this lesson

Step 1: Gate Posts Are Bigger Than Line Posts

A gate hangs its weight off one post, so Caltrans Standard Plan A85 (p. 155) has a separate Gate Post table with its own B and D. Non-slatted fence: 5 ft, 6 ft and 8 ft use a 3.50 in. OD post with B = 12 in. and D = 2 ft 6 in. (5 ft and 6 ft) or 3 ft (8 ft); 10 ft uses 3.50 in. OD with B = 14 in. and D = 3 ft 6 in. Slatted fence: 5 ft uses 4.00 in. OD, B = 12 in., D = 3 ft; 6 ft uses 4.50 in. OD, B = 14 in., D = 3 ft 6 in.; 8 ft uses 5.56 in. OD, B = 18 in., D = 3 ft 6 in.; 10 ft uses 6.63 in. OD, B = 20 in., D = 4 ft. The 3-times-the-post-width rule (A85A Note 1) still applies.

Step 2: Width Limits and Gate Details

Standard Plan A85 states that the maximum gate width is 12 ft and that a vertical stay is required in the middle of any gate wider than 8 ft. The plan shows 2 in. of clearance under the gate and the gate posts braced to the nearest line post (§80-3.03 requires a horizontal brace with truss rods for each gate post). A85A shows a double gate with a removable center post (each gate at most 12 ft wide) and a 4-ft walk gate. Each leaf of a double gate is sized by its own width, not by the whole opening.

The remaining 3 steps, the worked example and the quiz are in the course. This is a preview. The full lesson, with the step-by-step explanations, a worked example and a quick-check quiz, is inside the classroom.

More lessons for this trade

Browse all lesson previews

Ready to practice for real?

Try the real classroom free, no sign-up, or get the full course for your trade.

Open the free trialSee pricing

Independent exam preparation. Contractors Classroom is not affiliated with the Contractors State License Board, and no course can guarantee a passing result.