Kent Fence Contractor
Kent is really three places. The Green River valley floor holds warehouses, older homes and flat, wet ground. East Hill, the biggest residential area, climbs to a plateau of subdivisions stretching toward Lake Meridian. West Hill looks back over the valley toward the Sound.
We build residential fences and gates on all three, chain link and security fencing for valley businesses, and repair and replace older fences — with post footings suited to valley soil.
Schedule your no-obligation on-site consultation today.
Kent’s Valley and Hills
The valley floor
Soft, silty river soils and a high water table. Posts need wider holes, gravel for drainage and concrete that sheds water, or they lean within a few winters.
East Hill subdivisions
Neighborhoods from the 1970s onward, toward Lake Meridian and beyond, with privacy fences between yards and many HOA standards.
Streams and wetlands
Mill Creek, Soos Creek and wetlands on the hills bring critical-area buffers. For new development next to them, Kent can require a wildlife-passable fence along the buffer edge.
Kent Fence Rules in Brief
Permit-free up to 7 feet
According to the city, fences 7 feet high or less are exempt from building permits; retaining walls up to 4 feet without a surcharge are too.
Height limits: ask Planning
We did not find a residential fence-height limit in the Kent City Code. Before building a tall fence, confirm the rule for your lot with Kent Planning, and check any HOA covenants.
Corner vision
On a residential corner lot, nothing may materially block vision between 2½ and 10 feet above the street centerline within a triangle 20 feet along each street line.
Easements
The city advises owners to consider sight distance and utility easements before building. Compare with other cities in fence height rules by city.
Fence Types for Kent Properties
Vinyl in wet ground
Vinyl panels on well-drained posts avoid the rot that valley moisture brings to wood.
Cedar on steel posts
Cedar privacy with steel posts for East Hill yards where posts have failed before.
Industrial chain link
Heavy-gauge chain link, barbed tops where allowed, and rolling gates for valley yards and lots. See commercial fencing.
Kent Jobs
Leaning fences on the valley floor
Resetting posts with proper drainage, or replacing the run. See fence repair.
Removing old chain link
Tearing out rusted chain link and its footings ahead of a new privacy fence. See fence removal.
Dog-safe back yards
Dig guards and self-closing gates on East Hill yards. See dog fences.
Kent Fence Questions
Do I need a permit for a fence in Kent?
Not for a fence 7 feet high or less, according to the city’s permit page.
How tall can my fence be in Kent?
We could not find a residential height limit in the Kent City Code, so we check with the city for each project — and corner lots have vision-clearance limits in any case.
Why do fences lean so much on the valley floor?
Soft, wet soil lets posts move, and water held around wood posts rots them. Wider footings, gravel and steel or vinyl posts help.
Can I fence along the creek behind my house?
Critical-area buffers limit what can be built. Ask the city before planning a fence near a stream or wetland.
Sources
- Do I need a permit? City of Kent
- KCC 15.08 — General and supplementary provisions (15.08.130, corner vision) City of Kent
- KCC 11.06 — Critical areas (11.06.103) City of Kent
- Frequently asked questions City of Kent
Links and figures last checked against these sources: . Codes change — confirm the current rule with the city before you build.