Guides & Resources
Fence Height Rules for 18 Cities Around Seattle
How tall your fence can be depends on the city, and on which part of the lot it stands in. Most cities around Seattle allow about 6 feet along back and side lot lines, drop to between 3 and 4½ feet in the front yard, and require a building permit only for fences taller than 6, 7 or 8 feet.
The details differ more than people expect. This guide sets out each city’s rule as written in its code, with a link to the source. Use it to plan, then confirm with the city for your address before you build.
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01
At a Glance
| City | Back & side yards | Front yard | Building permit needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 6 ft, plus 2 ft of open architectural features | 4 ft in front and street-side setbacks (SMC 23.44.090.H.4) | Over 8 ft, masonry or concrete over 6 ft, flood-prone areas |
| Bellevue | Up to 8 ft outside the front setback | 4 ft 6 in in the required front setback | Over 8 ft; critical-area buffers; concrete block |
| Redmond | 6 ft in setbacks | 4 ft | Over 7 ft (code); see note |
| Kirkland | 6 ft | 3.5 ft on most residential streets | Over 6 ft; critical areas, flood hazard, WUI areas |
| Issaquah | Confirm with the city | 4 ft in Olde Town | Over 6 ft, or in a critical area |
| Sammamish | 6 ft (8 ft in short runs by agreement) | 4 ft in the front setback | 8-ft runs need a Type I permit |
| Woodinville | 6 ft in setbacks | 6 ft (no lower front limit) | Over 7 ft |
| Mercer Island | 72 in | 42 in | Over 6 ft; flood hazard or critical areas |
| Shoreline | 6 ft on property lines | 3 ft 6 in recommended | Over 7 ft, or in a critical area |
| Bothell | 6 ft anywhere | 6 ft | Over 6 ft |
| Lynnwood | 6 ft (8 ft with adornment) | Open fences only within 15 ft of the front line | Over 6 ft |
| Edmonds | 6 ft from lowest original grade | 3 ft near streets and corners | Over 3 ft near streets or corners; critical areas |
| Everett | 7 ft; 6 ft on street sides | 42 in within 20 ft of the street | Over 7 ft (Public Works) |
| Renton | 72 in | 48 in in the front setback | Over 6 ft |
| Kent | Confirm with the city | Corner vision rules apply | Over 7 ft |
| Auburn | 72 in | 42 in solid; 72 in if see-through | Over 84 in |
| Federal Way | 6 ft in required yards | 6 ft (no lower front limit) | Over 6 ft (confirm) |
| Tacoma | Confirm with the city | 3–4 ft between the street and the house | Over 7 ft; masonry walls over 4 ft |
Summaries only — each city’s section below has the conditions and exceptions that go with these numbers.
02
Three Things That Trip People Up
- Permit-exempt is not the same as allowed. A 7-foot fence may need no building permit in a city whose zoning code still caps fences in required yards at 6 feet. Both rules apply.
- Where height is measured from. Cities measure from different grades — the higher side, the lower side, the lowest original grade, or existing grade at the base of the fence — and most count a fence on top of a retaining wall or berm together with it.
- Critical areas override everything. Near wetlands, streams, steep slopes and shorelines, permit exemptions often do not apply and some cities do not allow fences at all.
HOA covenants can be stricter still; see HOA fence approval. Where the property line actually is is a separate question — see boundary fences in Washington.
Seattle
- Neighborhood Residential zones, SMC 23.44.090.H.4 (as adopted by Council Bill 120993, effective January 2026): “Fences no greater than 6 feet in height are allowed in any required setback, except that fences in the required front setback extended to side lot lines or in street side setbacks extended to the front and rear lot lines may not exceed 4 feet in height.” Lowrise multifamily zones have the same rule (SMC 23.45.518).
- Up to 2 feet of predominantly open arbors or trellises may be added on top — but not in the front or street-side setback.
- On slopes, height may be averaged over each 6-foot segment, with no point above 8 feet (or 6 feet where the 4-foot limit applies).
- A fence on top of a bulkhead or retaining wall is limited to 4 feet; on a new wall built to raise grade, wall and fence together may not exceed 9.5 feet.
- Articles that say Seattle allows 6 feet in any yard are quoting the former single-family code (SMC 23.44.014), which this update replaced.
- Permits: fences 8 feet or less are exempt if masonry or concrete elements are 6 feet or less. A permit is needed in flood-prone areas.
More detail in the Seattle fence permit guide. Sources: Council Bill 120993, SMC 23.44.090.H; SDCI, Fences.
Bellevue
- In a required front-yard setback: 4 feet 6 inches, with limited exceptions (for example along arterials or on one side of a corner lot).
- Elsewhere on the lot: up to 8 feet. Fences over 8 feet need a building permit and may not stand in any required setback.
- Height is measured from finished grade on the exterior side of the fence.
- A permit is also needed in a critical-area buffer or for concrete-block fences. Sight-obstruction rules apply near intersections.
- Barbed wire only on top of a fence at least 6 feet high.
More detail in the Bellevue fence rules guide. Source: City of Bellevue, Fences.
Redmond
- Residential and center zones: 6 feet in rear and side setbacks; “walls and fences located in any front yard must be 4 feet or less” (RZC 21.24.030).
- Height is measured from existing grade at the base of the fence to the top of the slats. A fence on, or within 5 feet of, a retaining wall counts together with the wall.
- Sight-distance triangles at street corners and driveways must be clear between 2 and 8 feet above street grade (RZC 21.52.040).
- Fences are not allowed in critical areas and their buffers, native growth protection areas, greenbelts or open space.
- Permits: the building code amendment exempts fences not over 7 feet (RMC 15.08.050). One city web page still says 6 feet, so confirm before building a fence between 6 and 7 feet.
Kirkland
- Fences up to 6 feet may be anywhere on the lot, with exceptions; fences over 6 feet may not be in required yards (KZC 115.40).
- A house on a neighborhood access or collector street may not have a fence over 3.5 feet in the required front yard.
- Fences may not be within 15 feet of the curb or pavement edge unless a survey shows the property line.
- A fence and retaining wall within 5 feet of each other in a required yard: 6 feet combined.
- Permits: fences not over 6 feet are exempt, but the exemption does not apply in flood hazard areas, critical areas and their buffers, or wildland-urban interface areas (KMC 21.06.215).
- Shoreline lots: no fence waterward of the shoreline setback.
Sources: KZC 115.40, KMC 21.06.
Issaquah
- We did not find a single citywide residential fence-height limit in Issaquah’s land use code; ask the city for the rule that applies to your zone and any subdivision conditions.
- In the Olde Town single-family zone, “a low fence, no taller than four feet, may be located in the front yard” (IMC 18.700.160).
- Permits: the city requires one for a fence in a critical area or more than 6 feet tall.
- Retaining walls over 4 feet need a permit; the forested hillside rules limit walls in setbacks.
Sources: City of Issaquah, Do I need a permit?, IMC 18.700.
Sammamish
- Rear and side yards: 6 feet. Segments of up to 32 linear feet may be 8 feet with a neighbor agreement recorded with King County and a Type I permit; no fence may exceed 8 feet (SMC 21.06.020).
- Front yard setback: 4 feet. On corner or odd-shaped lots, up to 6 feet along the street frontage that is not the access, outside the vision triangle.
- Sight triangles of 15 by 15 feet at intersections and driveways must be clear between 42 inches and 8 feet.
- A fence on a retaining wall or berm: 10 feet total, measured from the ground on the low side, unless the fence is set back at least 2 feet.
- Shoreline jurisdiction: 6 feet maximum, none in wetlands, streams or their buffers, and only 42-inch open fences inside the shoreline setback.
- We did not confirm a building-permit height threshold in the Sammamish code; ask the city for fences over 6 feet.
Sources: SMC 21.06.020, SMC 21.04.030, SMC 25.07.
Woodinville
- In residential zones, fences, rockeries and retaining walls within setback areas may not exceed 6 feet — including combinations of them within 3 feet of each other (WMC 21.40.010).
- Measured from the ground directly under the fence, including posts; caps may add up to 6 inches. A berm counts toward the height.
- Fences must stand entirely inside the property line unless both owners agree.
- Permits: fences not over 7 feet above finished grade are exempt (WMC 21.62.070).
Mercer Island
- Side and rear yards: 72 inches. Front yards: 42 inches, including any combination of fences, retaining walls and rockeries (MICC 19.02.050).
- An entry arbor over a walkway may reach 90 inches if at least half open.
- Height is measured to the existing or finished grade, whichever is lower — adding fill does not raise the allowed height.
- On a corner lot, the front yard is on the narrower street side.
- Electric and barbed wire fences are not allowed.
- Permits: fences not over 6 feet are exempt, except in flood hazard or critical areas.
Sources: MICC 19.02, City of Mercer Island, when permits are required.
Shoreline
- Neighborhood residential zones: fences along a property line may be 6 feet, subject to sight-clearance rules (SMC 20.50.110).
- Front yard: the code recommends no more than 3 feet 6 inches between the front building setback line and the front property line.
- On a retaining wall, height is measured from the finished grade at the top of the wall, with a 6-foot maximum.
- Electric, razor wire and barbed wire fences are prohibited.
- Permits: none unless the fence is over 7 feet or in an environmentally critical area; fences over 6 feet must meet yard setbacks.
Sources: Shoreline Municipal Code, SMC 20.50, City of Shoreline, Residential Fences handout.
Bothell
- Fences 6 feet or less may be placed without a setback in any front, rear or side yard, behind any required landscape buffer. Taller fences must meet the setbacks (BMC 12.14.150).
- Measured from the predominant finish grade or existing grade near the fence.
- Fences must meet the city’s sight-distance standards and stay at least 3 feet from fire hydrants.
- Razor wire is prohibited; barbed wire and electric fences are limited to animal-keeping and specific security uses.
- Permits: fences not over 6 feet are exempt (BMC 20.02.095).
Sources: BMC 12.14.150, BMC 20.02.095.
Lynnwood
- Vision-obscuring fences in residential zones: up to 6 feet, or 8 feet with an attached adornment; open fences such as chain link: 6 feet (LMC 21.10.100).
- No vision-obscuring fence within 15 feet of the front lot line.
- Sight triangles: 30 by 30 feet at street corners and 15 by 15 feet at driveways, with a 3-foot limit.
- Height is measured from the ground on the higher side of the fence.
- Permits: fences over 6 feet need a building permit (city fence and hedge guide).
Sources: LMC 21.10, Residential Fence and Hedge Guide.
Edmonds
- No fence more than 6 feet, measured from the top of the fence to the lowest original grade (ECDC 17.30).
- Within 10 feet of a street right-of-way or access easement, or 30 feet of a corner: 3 feet, unless the city engineer approves up to 6 feet.
- A permit is required for a fence over 3 feet in those areas, and for any fence in a critical area or its buffer.
- On a retaining wall 3 feet or taller, the fence may rise 4 feet above the top of the wall.
- Trellises may reach 8 feet and an arbor over a gate 9 feet.
Source: ECDC 17.30.
Everett
- Interior side and rear setbacks: 7 feet. Street-side setback: 6 feet (EMC 19.40.010).
- Within 20 feet of the right-of-way along the front lot line: 42 inches — or 6 feet if at least 10 feet from the sidewalk, at least 70% see-through between 3 and 6 feet, and not chain link.
- On a retaining wall of 6 feet or less, the full fence height is allowed above the wall; on a taller wall, 42 inches.
- Barbed and razor wire are not permitted in residential zones. Fences must be 2 feet back from sidewalks.
- Permits: fences on private property up to 7 feet need none; taller fences need a Public Works permit.
Sources: EMC 19.40.010, City of Everett fence handout.
Renton
- Residential zones: 72 inches maximum for any fence, hedge or retaining wall (RMC 4-4-040).
- Front yard setback: 48 inches, and 42 inches in the clear vision area at corners. A rear yard along a street: 48 inches.
- On a corner lot, the secondary front yard may have a 72-inch fence set back 8 feet with landscaping, a finished face and no chain link.
- Measured from the ground, and from the higher side where grades differ; a wall plus fence may not exceed the standalone limit except in specific cases.
- A fence along a rear lot line on an alley needs a gate.
- Permits: a fence taller than 6 feet needs a building permit or a written exemption.
Source: RMC 4-4-040.
Kent
- We did not find a residential fence-height limit in the Kent City Code; ask Kent Planning for the rule that applies to your lot.
- Corner lots: nothing may materially impede vision between 2½ and 10 feet above the street centerline within a triangle 20 feet along each street line (KCC 15.08.130).
- Permits: fences 7 feet or less are exempt, according to the city.
- New development next to wetland, stream and landslide-hazard buffers may have to build a wildlife-passable fence along the buffer edge.
Sources: KCC 15.08, City of Kent, Do I need a permit?
Auburn
- Residential zones: 72 inches in side, rear and street-side setbacks (ACC 18.31.020).
- Front setback: 42 inches — or 72 inches for chain link, wrought iron or similar fences that are no more than 50% opaque.
- Measured from existing grade; on a retaining wall, from the base of the wall. Lattice and trellis count toward height.
- Barbed, concertina and razor wire are prohibited in residential zones, except for pastures of an acre or more. Fire hydrants must stay visible, and locking front-yard gates need emergency access.
- Permits: fences over 84 inches.
Source: ACC 18.31.020.
Federal Way
- Fences not over 6 feet may be located in required yards (FWRC 19.125.160); the code sets no separate lower limit for front yards.
- If a rockery or retaining wall is within 5 feet of the fence, the combined height is 6 feet, plus a required safety rail.
- Sight-distance triangles at intersections and driveways must be clear between 2.5 and 10 feet above the pavement edge.
- Razor wire is prohibited; barbed wire only on top of a fence or wall at least 6 feet high; electric fences generally not permitted.
- Permits: the city lists fences not over 6 feet as exempt; exemptions do not apply in critical areas.
Sources: FWRC 19.125, City of Federal Way, residential permit exemptions.
Tacoma
- Between a public street and a building, fences are generally limited to 3 feet (TMC 13.06.090.K).
- In the UR residential districts, 4 feet above sidewalk grade — 5 feet if semi-transparent or decorative with a planting strip, and 7 feet if at least half transparent above 5 feet with a wider planting strip.
- Chain link is prohibited between the front of a house and the street; barbed wire, razor wire and electric fences are prohibited in residential districts.
- Fences must be at least 2 feet behind the back of the sidewalk.
- Rear and interior side yards: we did not find a numeric zoning limit; confirm with the city.
- Permits: any fence over 7 feet, or a masonry wall over 4 feet.
Sources: TMC 13.06.090, Tacoma Permits, fences tip sheet.
21
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common fence height limit around Seattle?
Six feet in back and side yards. Front yards are where cities differ most — from 3 feet near Edmonds streets and in much of Tacoma, to 42 inches in Kirkland, Mercer Island, Everett and Auburn (for solid fences), 4 feet in Seattle, Redmond, Sammamish and Renton, and 4½ feet in Bellevue.
Does lattice or a trellis on top count toward the height?
In most cities, yes. Seattle allows up to 2 feet of open architectural features above a 6-foot fence (not in front or street-side setbacks), Edmonds allows trellises to 8 feet, and Lynnwood allows 8 feet with an attached adornment; Auburn counts lattice toward the height.
Can I build a taller fence if my neighbor agrees?
Only where the code provides for it — Sammamish, for example, allows short 8-foot sections with a recorded neighbor agreement and a permit. In most cities a neighbor’s consent does not change the limit.
Do you check these rules when you build a fence?
Yes. The layout, heights and gates are planned against your city’s rules for each part of the lot, and anything that needs the city’s review is flagged before work starts.
Sources
Every city section above links to its own code. The general sources:
- SDCI — Fences City of Seattle
- Council Bill 120993 — Neighborhood Residential zoning (SMC 23.44.090.H, fences in setbacks) City of Seattle, 2025; effective January 2026
- Fences — zoning requirements City of Bellevue
- Redmond Zoning Code 21.24 City of Redmond
- Kirkland Zoning Code 115.40 City of Kirkland
- Sammamish Development Code 21.06.020 City of Sammamish
- Woodinville Municipal Code 21.40 City of Woodinville
- Mercer Island City Code 19.02 City of Mercer Island
- Shoreline Municipal Code City of Shoreline
- Bothell Municipal Code 12.14.150 City of Bothell
- Lynnwood Municipal Code 21.10 City of Lynnwood
- Edmonds Community Development Code 17.30 City of Edmonds
- Everett Municipal Code 19.40.010 City of Everett
- Renton Municipal Code 4-4-040 City of Renton
- Kent City Code 15.08 City of Kent
- Auburn City Code 18.31.020 City of Auburn
- Federal Way Revised Code 19.125 City of Federal Way
- Tacoma Municipal Code 13.06.090 City of Tacoma
- Do I need a permit? City of Issaquah
Links and figures last checked against these sources: . Codes change — confirm the current rule with the city before you build.
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