Seattle Fence Contractor
Seattle fences get built on some of the trickiest lots in the region: narrow city parcels with alleys behind them, corner lots with two street sides, and hillside yards where a fence has to step down a slope or sit on top of a retaining wall. We plan each fence around those conditions and the city’s height rules before a single post goes in.
We build new cedar, horizontal, vinyl and metal fences, repair and replace old ones, and hang gates on side yards and alleys across the city — from Ballard and Wedgwood to West Seattle and Rainier Valley.
Schedule your no-obligation on-site consultation today.
What Seattle Lots Are Like
Most of the fences we see in Seattle are replacing something decades old on a lot laid out long before anyone thought about privacy.
Narrow lots and alleys
Older neighborhoods such as Ballard, Wallingford, Greenwood and Beacon Hill were platted with narrow lots and rear alleys. A typical job is a privacy fence along both side lines with a gate onto the alley, where the fence line has to stay clear of the alley right-of-way.
Hills, bluffs and retaining walls
Queen Anne, Magnolia, West Seattle and the slopes above Lake Washington mean stepped fences, fences on rockeries and walls, and steep-slope critical areas where extra rules apply. A fence on top of a wall is limited together with the wall.
Wet ground and big trees
Clay and compacted glacial soils hold water through the winter, and mature street and yard trees push roots under fence lines. Posts get gravel under the concrete, and the line bends around roots rather than through them.
Seattle Fence Rules in Brief
Seattle regulates fence height through the zoning code and permits through the building code. Both matter; being exempt from a permit does not make a fence legal at any height.
Back and side yards: 6 feet
In Neighborhood Residential and lowrise zones, up to 6 feet in required setbacks, plus up to 2 feet of predominantly open trellis or arbor on top (SMC 23.44.090.H.4).
Front and street-side setbacks: 4 feet
Corner lots have a street-side setback along the second street, so the privacy fence usually steps down where it passes the setback line. No trellis may be added above the 4 feet. The limit came with the Neighborhood Residential update that took effect in January 2026; older articles that quote “6 feet in any yard” describe the previous single-family code.
Slopes and walls
On a slope, height may be averaged over each 6-foot segment, up to 8 feet at any point (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, the two together may not exceed 9.5 feet.
Permits
Fences up to 8 feet are exempt when masonry or concrete parts stay under 6 feet. Flood-prone sites need a permit. Details in the Seattle fence permit guide.
Fences That Suit Seattle Houses
Cedar privacy along side lines
The classic Seattle backyard fence. On a narrow lot, a board-on-board design looks finished from the neighbor’s side too — useful when you share the line. Posts set to shed water are what make it last; see how long cedar lasts here.
Horizontal slats on modern builds
New townhomes and remodeled houses often get a horizontal fence, which makes a small yard feel wider. Shorter post spacing keeps the boards from sagging.
Low front-yard fences
Inside the 4-foot front setback limit, picket, aluminum or low cedar fences with an open top keep Craftsman porches visible from the street.
Common Seattle Jobs
Replacing an old shared fence
Removing a leaning fence between two back yards and building a new one on the same line, with the neighbor agreed on position and finish. The boundary fence guide covers the neighbor side of it.
Alley and side-yard gates
Gates for bins and bikes on tight side yards, and alley gates hung on steel-reinforced posts so they stop dragging. See gate installation.
Storm and root repairs
Posts snapped at ground level in a windstorm, sections pushed over by roots, and gates that dropped. See fence repair.
Nearby Cities We Serve
Seattle Fence Questions
How tall can a fence be in Seattle?
Up to 6 feet in required setbacks, plus up to 2 feet of open trellis or arbor, and 4 feet — with nothing added on top — in front and street-side setbacks (SMC 23.44.090.H.4). Slopes and retaining walls have their own rules.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Seattle?
Not for most residential fences: fences up to 8 feet are exempt when masonry or concrete parts are no taller than 6 feet. Flood-prone areas, taller fences and heavier masonry need a permit, and critical areas add review.
Will the city help settle a fence dispute with my neighbor?
No. SDCI says it cannot become involved in private civil disputes between neighbors and points owners to a survey and legal advice. Agree on the line before the old fence comes down.
Can a fence go right up to the alley?
Only to your property line. The alley right-of-way is regulated by the Seattle Department of Transportation, and it often extends further than the pavement suggests.
Sources
- Fences — common projects Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections
- Council Bill 120993 — Neighborhood Residential zoning, SMC 23.44.090.H (fences in setbacks) City of Seattle; effective January 2026 Replaced the former single-family standards, including SMC 23.44.014.
- Property line disputes Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections
Links and figures last checked against these sources: . Codes change — confirm the current rule with the city before you build.