Renton Fence Contractor
Renton covers a lot of ground — the south end of Lake Washington, the Cedar River valley, and the plateaus of the Highlands, Benson Hill and Talbot Hill above it. The housing ranges from wartime and mid-century homes near downtown and the Highlands to newer subdivisions on the hills, and Renton has one of the clearest fence codes in the region.
We build and replace privacy fences, front-yard fences and gates across Renton, repair storm-damaged fences, and build commercial fencing for the business parks along the valley.
Schedule your no-obligation on-site consultation today.
Renton Neighborhoods and Terrain
Highlands and downtown
Older homes on regular lots, many with alleys, where a back fence along the alley needs a gate under Renton’s code.
Kennydale and the valley walls
Lots slope toward the lake and down into the Cedar River valley. Fences step, and a retaining wall plus fence may not exceed the standalone fence limit in most cases.
Benson Hill and Talbot Hill subdivisions
Newer neighborhoods with corner lots, cul-de-sacs and HOA fence standards.
Renton Fence Rules in Brief
72 inches maximum
In any residential zone, fences, hedges and retaining walls are limited to 72 inches. That applies to rear and interior side yards; a rear yard along a street is limited to 48 inches.
Front yard: 48 inches
No more than 48 inches in any part of the front yard setback, and no more than 42 inches in the clear vision area — the triangle 20 feet back from a street corner.
Corner lots
The secondary front yard is limited to 48 inches, or 72 inches if the fence is set back at least 8 feet with landscaping in front, has its finished face to the street, and is not chain link. Otherwise a special fence permit is needed.
Permits and measuring
Fences taller than 6 feet need a building permit or a written exemption. Height is measured from the ground, and from the higher side where the two sides differ. Compare in fence height rules by city.
Fences That Work in Renton
Good-neighbor corner fences
For a 72-inch fence on a corner lot, a board-on-board cedar fence set back 8 feet with planting in front meets the finished-face and landscaping conditions.
48-inch front fences
Picket, low horizontal or aluminum fences that fit the front setback and clear vision limits.
Alley gates
A gate in any fence along a rear alley line, sized for bins and parking access.
Renton Jobs
Replacing mid-century fences
Old fences out, new ones on the surveyed line. See fence replacement.
Business park perimeters
Chain link and ornamental steel for industrial and commercial sites in the valley. See security fencing.
Posts on slopes
Fences that have leaned downhill, reset deeper. See fence repair.
Renton Fence Questions
What is the tallest fence allowed in Renton?
72 inches in residential zones, including hedges and retaining walls. Taller needs a variance.
How tall can a front-yard fence be?
48 inches in the front yard setback and 42 inches in the clear vision area at corners.
Do I need a permit for a 6-foot fence?
No — the permit requirement starts above 6 feet. A 72-inch corner-lot fence that does not meet the setback and landscaping conditions needs a special administrative fence permit.
Does my alley fence need a gate?
Yes. Renton requires fences on rear lot lines abutting an alley to have a gate.
Sources
- RMC 4-4-040 — Fences, hedges and retaining walls City of Renton
- RMC 4-11-030 — Definitions C (clear vision area) City of Renton
Links and figures last checked against these sources: . Codes change — confirm the current rule with the city before you build.