Kirkland Fence Contractor
Kirkland is a city of teardowns and rebuilds. Older houses on Norkirk, Market and Houghton streets are being replaced with larger homes that fill more of the lot, which leaves tight side yards, new neighbors close by, and a real need for privacy. On Finn Hill and around Juanita, it is wooded slopes and ravines instead.
We design and build fences, gates and modern slat screens across Kirkland, repair storm-damaged fences under the Finn Hill firs, and replace tired cedar along the Rose Hill and Kingsgate subdivisions — always checked against Kirkland’s front-yard and street rules first.
Schedule your no-obligation on-site consultation today.
Kirkland Properties, Street by Street
Infill and new construction
In Moss Bay, Norkirk, Highlands and Houghton, a new house often sits 5 feet from the side line. The fence has to fit the gap between a foundation, a heat pump and a neighbor’s fence without blocking access to the back yard.
Lake slopes and Finn Hill ravines
Lots drop toward Lake Washington and into the ravines around O.O. Denny and Big Finn Hill parks. Retaining walls are common, and Kirkland counts a fence and wall within 5 feet of each other in a required yard as one 6-foot element.
Totem Lake and Bridle Trails
Townhome communities around Totem Lake mean shared fences and association rules; on the Kirkland side of Bridle Trails, larger lots and horse properties call for longer boundary fences.
Kirkland Fence Rules in Brief
Kirkland’s fence standards are in KZC 115.40. The ones that shape most residential jobs:
Up to 6 feet almost anywhere
Fences up to 6 feet may be anywhere on the property except where the code limits them; fences over 6 feet may not be in required yards.
3.5 feet in the front yard
A house on a neighborhood access or collector street may not have a fence over 3.5 feet in the required front yard. On a corner lot with two front yards, that applies to the yard at the front of the house.
15 feet from the curb
Fences cannot be within 15 feet of the curb or pavement edge unless a survey shows where the property line is — which matters on streets without sidewalks.
Permits and shorelines
Fences up to 6 feet are permit-exempt, but not in critical areas, flood hazard areas or wildland-urban interface areas. No fence may go waterward of the shoreline setback. See all cities in fence height rules by city.
What Works on Kirkland Lots
Horizontal cedar for new homes
Contemporary rebuilds usually want a horizontal fence in clear cedar or composite that matches the house trim, with a matching side-yard gate.
Low, open front fences
Within 3.5 feet at the front, aluminum or a cedar picket with wide spacing marks the yard without hiding the house.
Wind-ready fences under big trees
On Finn Hill, fences take falling branches and winter wind. Steel posts behind cedar boards and sections that can be replaced one at a time keep repairs small.
Kirkland Jobs We Take On
Fences after a rebuild
New fence lines once construction fencing comes down, laid out around new foundations, window wells and drainage.
Storm repairs
Posts snapped and panels crushed by branches — see fence repair for how we decide what can be saved.
Side-yard gates in tight spaces
Narrow gates sized for a mower and bins, hung to swing clear of a heat pump or meter. See gate installation.
Nearby Cities We Serve
Kirkland Fence Questions
How tall can a front-yard fence be in Kirkland?
For most houses, 3.5 feet in the required front yard. Arterial streets have a separate rule tied to distance from the property line and landscaping.
Does a fence on my retaining wall count as one structure?
In a required yard, a fence and retaining wall within 5 feet of each other may be a maximum of 6 feet combined.
Can I fence my waterfront yard?
Not waterward of the shoreline setback. Landward of it, the normal rules apply, and critical areas can require a permit.
Do you work in Totem Lake townhome communities?
Yes, with the association’s approval. See HOA fence approval for what to submit.
Sources
- KZC 115.40 — Fence location and height standards City of Kirkland
- KZC Chapter 115 — Miscellaneous use development standards (115.115, retaining walls) City of Kirkland
- KMC 21.06 — Building code administration (21.06.215, exempt work) City of Kirkland
Links and figures last checked against these sources: . Codes change — confirm the current rule with the city before you build.