Everett Fence Contractor
Everett runs from century-old houses on the North End grid, with alleys and bluff-top views over Port Gardner, down through Lowell and the Snohomish River valley to the newer subdivisions around Silver Lake and Mill Creek’s edges. The city amended its fence standards in 2026, and some of its own handouts have not caught up.
We build fences and gates across Everett — traditional front fences for older homes, privacy fences for south Everett subdivisions, chain link for larger lots — and repair and replace the fences that are already there.
Schedule your no-obligation on-site consultation today.
Everett, North End to Silver Lake
Historic North End
Northwest Everett, Riverside and Bayside: older houses on narrow lots with alleys, where front fences are part of the street’s character and back fences meet garages on the alley.
River valley and Lowell
Near the Snohomish River the ground is soft and wet, so fence posts need drainage and deeper footings.
South Everett subdivisions
Around Silver Lake and the neighborhoods along the south end, subdivisions with privacy fences between yards, many now due for replacement.
Everett Fence Rules in Brief
Side and rear: 7 feet
Everett allows fences up to 7 feet in interior side and rear setbacks, and 6 feet in the street-side setback.
Front: 42 inches within 20 feet
Within 20 feet of the right-of-way along the front lot line, fences are limited to 42 inches — or 6 feet if they stand at least 10 feet from the sidewalk, are at least 70% see-through between 3 and 6 feet, and are not chain link. Corner lots may swap front and street-side heights.
Walls, berms and sight lines
On a retaining wall up to 6 feet, the full fence height is allowed above it; on a taller wall, 42 inches. A berm does not add height. At intersections nothing over 36 inches in the 15-foot vision triangle.
Permits and wire
Private fences up to 7 feet need no permit; taller fences, and any fence in the right-of-way, need a Public Works permit. Keep fences 2 feet back from sidewalks. Barbed and razor wire are not permitted in residential zones. Compare in fence height rules by city.
Fences for Everett Homes
7-foot back-yard privacy
Everett is one of the few cities here that allows 7 feet in side and rear setbacks — useful where houses sit close together.
See-through front fences
Ornamental aluminum or spaced pickets that meet the 70% see-through rule for a taller front fence set back from the sidewalk.
Classic picket for older houses
Painted or stained wood picket fences under 42 inches along North End streets.
Everett Jobs
Alley gates and garage fences
Gates to alley parking pads, and fences tied into detached garages. See gate installation.
Wind-damaged fences on the bluffs
Solid fences facing the water take wind hard; repairs often mean heavier posts. See fence repair.
Subdivision replacements
Replacing tired privacy fences between south Everett yards. See fence replacement.
Everett Fence Questions
How tall can a back-yard fence be in Everett?
Up to 7 feet in interior side and rear setbacks.
Can I build a 6-foot fence in front?
Only if it is at least 10 feet from the sidewalk, at least 70% see-through between 3 and 6 feet, and not chain link. Otherwise, 42 inches within 20 feet of the front right-of-way.
Do I need a permit?
Not for a fence on private property up to 7 feet. Over 7 feet, or in the right-of-way, you need a Public Works permit.
The city handout says 3½ feet in the front setback. Which is right?
The code, amended in 2026, measures the front limit from the right-of-way — 42 inches within 20 feet of it. The handout predates that change. Confirm with the city for your lot.
Sources
- EMC 19.40.010 — Fences and walls City of Everett
- Fence handout City of Everett Permit thresholds; its front-yard description predates the 2026 code amendment.
Links and figures last checked against these sources: . Codes change — confirm the current rule with the city before you build.