Mercer Island Fence Contractor
Mercer Island is steep, wooded and surrounded by water. Lots fall away from Island Crest Way toward Lake Washington, ravines cut through the north end and the south end, and the island’s code has its own fence rules — including one of the lowest front-yard limits in the area and a measuring rule that stops anyone from raising a fence on fill.
We build fences, gates and pool barriers on Mercer Island, and repair and replace fences on slopes and shoreline lots, planned around those rules from the first measurement.
Schedule your no-obligation on-site consultation today.
Island Lots
Slopes and ravines
Many lots slope steeply, so fences step down, sit beside rockeries, or run along the top of a wall. On the island, walls, rockeries and fences in the front yard all count toward the same 42-inch limit.
Shoreline homes
Waterfront lots add shoreland rules on top of the zoning code, and flood hazard and critical areas remove the permit exemption.
Mature trees
Big conifers and madronas close to property lines mean fence lines that bend around trunks and roots rather than cutting through them.
Mercer Island Fence Rules in Brief
Side and rear yards: 72 inches
Maximum 72 inches within required side and rear yards.
Front yards: 42 inches
Fences, gates, retaining walls and rockeries combined may reach 42 inches in required front yards. An entry arbor over a walkway may reach 90 inches if at least half open. On a corner lot, the front yard is on the narrower street side.
Measured from the lower grade
Height is measured to existing or finished grade, whichever is lower, including posts. Adding fill under a fence does not raise the allowed height.
Permits and wire
Fences up to 6 feet need no building permit, except in flood hazard or critical areas. Electric and barbed wire fences are not allowed. Compare in fence height rules by city.
What Suits Mercer Island
Aluminum along the view side
Black aluminum keeps a lake or territorial view open and does not rust in the damp shade under trees.
Stepped cedar screens
Privacy along side lines on a slope, stepped so no part exceeds 72 inches from the lower grade.
Front fences under 42 inches
Low picket or horizontal fences that fit the front-yard limit, with an open arbor over the walk if you want height at the entry.
Mercer Island Projects
Pool barriers on sloped yards
Barriers that keep the 48-inch minimum on the outside of the fence as the ground drops. See pool fences.
Fences pushed by slope movement
Posts that have crept downhill reset deeper, or the line moved to firmer ground. See fence repair.
Gates on steep drives
Sliding or single-swing gates where a double gate would hit the rising driveway. See driveway gates.
Mercer Island Fence Questions
How tall can a front-yard fence be on Mercer Island?
42 inches in the required front yard, counting any retaining wall or rockery with it. Along Island Crest Way and SE 40th Street, 72 inches is allowed with conditions.
Can I add fill to get a taller fence?
No. Height is measured from the lower of existing or finished grade, so fill does not change the limit.
Do I need a permit?
Not for a fence up to 6 feet, unless it is in a flood hazard or critical area.
Is an electric fence allowed for deer?
No — Mercer Island does not allow electric or barbed wire fences.
Sources
- MICC Chapter 19.02 — Residential development standards City of Mercer Island
- Building permits — when are they required? City of Mercer Island
Links and figures last checked against these sources: . Codes change — confirm the current rule with the city before you build.