Do I Need a Permit to Build a Fence in Washington?

Fence permit requirements for residential fencing. Height limits, setback rules, and when you need a permit.

Sometimes — many fences need only zoning/setback approval; a building permit kicks in mainly for fences over 7 feet or with structural elements.

In Washington

WASHINGTON HAS ONE STATE BUILDING CODE IN FORCE EVERYWHERE, ADOPTED BY REFERENCE: "Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, there shall be in effect in all counties and cities the state building code which shall consist of the following model codes which are hereby adopted by reference:" IN ALL COUNTIES AND CITIES - the model codes named in that section are the code, without any act by your city. AND YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY CHANGE IT, BUT ONLY IN ONE DIRECTION: "The governing bodies of counties and cities may amend the codes enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 as amended and adopted by the state building code council as they apply within their respective jurisdictions, but the amendments shall not result in a code that is less than the minimum performance standards and objectives contained in the state building code except as provided in subsection (2) of this section." NOT LESS THAN THE MINIMUM. So a local amendment may add to the state code and may not fall below it. That is the opposite arrangement from states that cap local rules at the model code, and it means a stricter local requirement in Washington is normal rather than suspect. FOR A HOUSE THERE IS A SECOND GATE, AND IT IS THE PART MOST READERS WOULD NEVER GUESS: "Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no amendment to a code enumerated in RCW 19.27.031 as amended and adopted by the state building code council that affects single-family or multifamily residential buildings shall be effective unless the amendment is approved by the building code council under RCW 19.27.074 (1)(b)." SHALL BE EFFECTIVE ONLY IF APPROVED BY THE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL. A local amendment touching single-family or multifamily residential buildings is not merely constrained - it does not take effect at all until a state council approves it. If you are told a local residential rule differs from the state code, that approval is the thing to ask about. AND ON FENCES THE CITIES ARE NOT MERELY DIFFERENT, THEY ARE OPPOSITE. Everett requires a permit for a fence of ANY height: "A building and/or electrical permit must be obtained from the building department BEFORE erecting or RE-ERECTING any fence" - with no height threshold at all, and re-erecting an existing fence counted the same as building a new one. Yakima goes the other way and exempts by height, requiring no building permit "for a fence not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high". So the same six-foot back-garden fence is permit-required in one Washington city and permit-exempt in another. THIS IS THE CLEAREST CASE IN THIS STATE OF WHY A STATE-LEVEL ANSWER CANNOT BE GIVEN FOR A LOCAL QUESTION: the state code floor says nothing about fence height, so the whole question is decided by the local amendment.

General Rule

Practice varies by city. The building code (IRC R105.2) exempts fences up to 7 feet tall from a building permit, and many jurisdictions follow that — requiring only that your fence comply with zoning rules for height, setback, and materials. Other cities do require a low-cost permit ($25-$50) for any new fence. Fences over 7 feet, and fences with structural elements like masonry columns or retaining walls, always need a building permit. Either way, zoning compliance is mandatory even when a permit isn't — so confirm your city's rule before you build.

Height Restrictions

In most residential zones: front yard fences are limited to 4 feet, side and rear yard fences are allowed up to 6 feet. Corner lots have additional sight-triangle restrictions near intersections. Fences over 6 feet may require a variance or special approval. Confirm the specific thresholds with your city.

Common Gotchas

The most common fence permit issues: building on or over the property line (get a survey first), blocking a drainage easement, installing prohibited materials in residential zones (barbed wire, electric), and exceeding height limits in the front yard. Call 811 before digging post holes to locate underground utilities.

HOA Rules

Many subdivisions have HOA covenants that are stricter than city code — requiring specific materials, colors, or styles. HOA approval is separate from the city permit. Get both before building.

Check your city first — you may need only zoning approval, or a low-cost ($25-$50) permit. Confirm height and setback rules before breaking ground; it's cheap insurance against having to tear down a non-compliant fence.

Permit fees by city in Washington

Verified from each city’s published fee schedule. Where a city has no separate fee listed for this project, open the city page for the current requirements and amount.

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Permit fees by city in Washington
	Permit fee	Source
Bonney Lake	Set by city council resolutionVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Des Moines	Set by the City Manager or designeeVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Edmonds	Set by council resolution; not in codeVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction)	Residential Building Permit (New Construction) →
Everett	See city page for the current Fence Permit fee	Fence Permit →
Issaquah	$33.26 minimum, tiered by valuationVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction)	Residential Building Permit (New Construction) →
Kenmore	Set by adopted fee scheduleVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Lake Stevens	Set by city council resolutionVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction)	Residential Building Permit (New Construction) →
Longview	Set in the master fee scheduleVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction)	Residential Building Permit (New Construction) →
Lynnwood	Set by city council fee ordinanceVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction)	Residential Building Permit (New Construction) →
Maple Valley	Set by Development Fee ScheduleVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Mercer Island	Set by city council resolutionVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Moses Lake	Set by city council resolutionVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Mountlake Terrace	Set by annually adopted fee scheduleVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Pullman	Set by city council resolutionVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Puyallup	Set by city manager executive orderVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction)	Residential Building Permit (New Construction) →
Sammamish	See city page for the current Residential Building Permit fee	Residential Building Permit →
SeaTac	Set by City of SeaTac Fee ScheduleVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Tumwater	Set by city council resolutionVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
University Place	Set by city council fee resolutionVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction)	Residential Building Permit (New Construction) →
Walla Walla	From $30.00, tiered by valuationVerifiedvia Residential building permit	Residential building permit →
Wenatchee	Not published in code; ask the cityVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction)	Residential Building Permit (New Construction) →

See the national overview for this permit →