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Fence Regulations

Bellingham's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Bellingham, Washington, there are 8 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Retaining Walls

Bellingham exempts retaining walls not over 4 feet (1,219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall from a building permit, unless the wall supports a surcharge or impounds Class I, II, or III-A liquids, per BMC 17.10.020 (Construction Administrative Code) and the Washington State Building Code (WAC 51-50 IBC / WAC 51-51 IRC). Retaining walls over 4 feet, or any wall supporting a surcharge, require a building permit and engineered design. BMC 20.30.110 (Fences) measures height for combined wall-and-fence structures from the ground level adjacent to the outside edge, so a fence built on top of a retaining wall in a required yard counts both elements toward the applicable yard height limit.

Key details: Permit Exemption Threshold: Retaining walls not over 4 feet (footing to top of wall). Surcharge Exception: Any height supporting surcharge requires permit and engineering. Engineered Design Threshold: Over 4 feet unbalanced backfill (IRC R404 / WAC 51-51). State Building Code: WAC 51-50 (IBC) and WAC 51-51 (IRC) adopted in BMC 17.10. Combined Wall + Fence Height: Both counted in required-yard limit (BMC 20.30.110).

Constructing a retaining wall over 4 feet (bottom of footing to top of wall) without a building permit violates BMC 17.10.020 and the Washington State Building Code (WAC 51-50, WAC 51-51). A retaining wall of any height that supports a surcharge or impounds Class I, II, or III-A liquids without a permit and engineered design is non-compliant. A fence built on top of a retaining wall inside a required yard that, when measured per BMC 20.30.110, exceeds the applicable yard height limit violates Title 20.

Approved Materials

BMC 20.30.110 (Fences) does not enumerate permitted fence materials and focuses on height and location. Common materials including wood, masonry, vinyl, metal, and composite are generally allowed in residential zones subject to the yard height limits in BMC 20.30.110 and the 36-inch vision clearance triangle in BMC 20.12.060. For duplex/triplex/fourplex/townhouse/shared-court housing types under BMC 20.28.050, fences in front and side-street setbacks must be no more than 60 percent opaque and may not be chain link or cyclone fencing. Fences over 8 feet, or with masonry/concrete elements above 6 feet, must meet the 2021 IBC adopted under BMC 17.10 and WAC 51-50.

Key details: Material List: BMC 20.30.110 does not enumerate permitted materials. Common Materials: Wood, masonry, vinyl, metal, composite generally allowed. Multi-Unit Setback Opacity: Max 60% in front/side-street setback (BMC 20.28.050). Chain Link in Multi-Unit Setback: Prohibited (BMC 20.28.050). Finished-Side Rule: Not imposed by Bellingham Municipal Code.

A fence in a duplex/triplex/fourplex/townhouse/shared-court front or side-street setback using chain link or cyclone material, or exceeding 60 percent opacity, violates BMC 20.28.050. A fence over 8 feet, or with masonry/concrete elements above 6 feet, that fails to meet the 2021 IBC structural provisions adopted under WAC 51-50 violates BMC 17.10. A perimeter pool fence that fails ISPSC 305.2 material/opening tests violates the adopted 2021 ISPSC.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Bellingham gives residents more flexibility on approved materials.

Height Limits

Bellingham fence heights inside a required yard are set by BMC 20.30.110 (Fences) in Title 20 Land Use Development. Fences, walls, and hedges in a required yard may not exceed: 54 inches (4.5 ft) in a front yard on an interior lot; 42 inches (3.5 ft) in a front yard on a corner lot or in a side yard on a flanking street; 72 inches (6 ft) in interior side and rear yards; and 36 inches (3 ft) inside the BMC 20.12.060 vision clearance triangle. Height is measured from the ground level adjacent to the outside edge of the wall or fence, and where a fence is constructed on top of a wall, both are included in the height calculation. Outside required yards, fences are subject to the height limits applicable to structures.

Key details: Front Yard - Interior Lot: 54 inches max (BMC 20.30.110). Front Yard - Corner Lot: 42 inches max (BMC 20.30.110). Side Yard on Flanking Street: 42 inches max. Interior Side and Rear Yards: 72 inches max. Vision Clearance Triangle: 36 inches max (BMC 20.12.060).

A front-yard fence on an interior lot taller than 54 inches violates BMC 20.30.110. A front-yard fence on a corner lot or a side-yard fence on a flanking street taller than 42 inches violates BMC 20.30.110. An interior side or rear yard fence taller than 72 inches inside the required yard violates BMC 20.30.110. A fence, wall, or hedge taller than 36 inches inside the BMC 20.12.060 vision clearance triangle is a sight-distance violation. Fences exceeding the height limits without an approved administrative exception are non-compliant and enforced by the City of Bellingham Planning and Community Development Department.

Permit Requirements

Bellingham exempts fences not over 8 feet (2,438 mm) in height that do not have masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet from a building permit, per the Construction Administrative Code adopted in BMC 17.10.020 and the Washington State Building Code (WAC 51-50). Fences over 8 feet (or with masonry/concrete elements above 6 feet) require a building permit through the Bellingham Permit Center. Land use height limits in BMC 20.30.110 apply to all fences, even those exempt from a building permit, and exceeding those height limits requires an administrative exception approved by the planning and public works directors.

Key details: Building Permit Threshold: Fences over 8 feet OR with masonry/concrete above 6 feet. Permit Authority: City of Bellingham Permit Center - (360) 778-8300. Codes Adopted: BMC 17.10 - 2021 IBC and 2021 IRC with WA amendments (WAC 51-50, 51-51). Land Use Compliance: BMC 20.30.110 height limits apply regardless of permit status. Administrative Exception: Planning and Public Works directors approve over-height fences.

Constructing a fence over 8 feet (or with masonry/concrete elements above 6 feet) without a Bellingham building permit violates BMC 17.10.020 and the Washington State Building Code (WAC 51-50). Building a fence above the BMC 20.30.110 yard height limits without an approved administrative exception violates Title 20. Exceeding 36 inches within the BMC 20.12.060 vision clearance triangle is a sight-distance violation regardless of permit status.

Fence Requirements

Bellingham's general fence requirements are in BMC 20.30.110 (Fences) and the Construction Administrative Code adopted under BMC 17.10.020. Inside a required yard, fences may not exceed 54 inches (interior lot front), 42 inches (corner lot front or side yard on a flanking street), 72 inches (interior side and rear yards), or 36 inches (vision clearance triangle under BMC 20.12.060). Height is measured from the ground level adjacent to the outside edge; a wall plus fence is counted as one combined height. Fences not over 8 feet that do not have masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet are exempt from a building permit, but all fences must meet the BMC 20.30.110 height and location rules.

Key details: Authority: BMC 20.30.110 (Fences) and BMC 20.12.060 (Vision Triangle). Front Yard - Interior Lot: 54 inches. Front Yard - Corner Lot: 42 inches. Side Yard on Flanking Street: 42 inches. Interior Side / Rear Yards: 72 inches.

A fence over the BMC 20.30.110 yard height for its lot configuration violates Title 20. A fence, structure, or vegetation over 36 inches inside the BMC 20.12.060 vision clearance triangle is a sight-distance violation. A fence over 8 feet, or with masonry/concrete elements above 6 feet, built without a Bellingham building permit violates BMC 17.10.020 and the Washington State Building Code. Exceeding the BMC 20.30.110 height limit without an approved administrative exception is non-compliant.

Neighbor Fence Rules

Bellingham's Title 20 Land Use Code regulates fence height, location, and the vision clearance triangle, but does not impose a cost-sharing requirement on adjoining neighbors and does not include a 'finished side' rule. The City of Bellingham Permit Center publication 'Fences, Walls and Hedges' explains that fence height limits in BMC 20.30.110 apply within a required yard and that the property owner is responsible for confirming boundaries. Boundary disputes and shared-fence cost-sharing between neighbors are governed by Washington State common law and statutes (including RCW 16.60 fencing of livestock), not by the Bellingham Municipal Code.

Key details: Property Line Placement: Owner responsible for confirming boundary (Bellingham Permit Center). Cost-Sharing Mandate: None in Bellingham Municipal Code. Finished-Side Rule: Not imposed by Bellingham Municipal Code. Vision Triangle: 36 inches max applies regardless of neighbor agreement (BMC 20.12.060). State Law Framework: RCW 16.60 (livestock) and Washington common law.

A fence placed beyond the property line is a private trespass that the City does not enforce; a court can order removal. A fence over the BMC 20.30.110 height limits, or over 36 inches inside the BMC 20.12.060 vision clearance triangle, is a code violation enforceable by the City regardless of neighbor agreement. Failure to obtain an administrative exception before exceeding the height limit is non-compliant with Title 20.

The rules around neighbor fence rules in Bellingham lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Material Restrictions

Bellingham's BMC 20.30.110 (Fences) is silent on a closed list of prohibited materials for general residential fences, focusing instead on height, location, and the vision clearance triangle. However, for duplex, triplex, fourplex, townhouse, and shared-court housing types governed by BMC 20.28.050 (general standards), 'all fences in the front and side street setbacks are limited to 42 inches in height and may be no more than 60 percent opaque' and 'chain link or cyclone fencing is not allowed in the front or side street setback.' Fences over 8 feet (or with masonry/concrete above 6 feet) must meet the 2021 IBC adopted under BMC 17.10 and WAC 51-50.

Key details: General Residential: BMC 20.30.110 does not enumerate prohibited materials. Multi-Unit Front/Side-Street Setback: 42-inch cap, max 60% opacity (BMC 20.28.050). Chain Link / Cyclone: Prohibited in front/side-street setback (BMC 20.28.050). Building Code Threshold: Over 8 ft or masonry/concrete above 6 ft (BMC 17.10.020). Codes Applied: 2021 IBC / IRC under WAC 51-50, WAC 51-51.

In duplex/triplex/fourplex/townhouse/shared-court zones, a chain link or cyclone fence in the front or side-street setback violates BMC 20.28.050. A fence in those setbacks taller than 42 inches or more than 60 percent opaque violates BMC 20.28.050. A fence over 8 feet, or with masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet, that does not meet the 2021 IBC structural provisions adopted under WAC 51-50 violates BMC 17.10. A fence built above the BMC 20.30.110 yard height without an administrative exception is non-compliant.

Pool Barriers

Residential pool barriers in Bellingham follow the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) adopted under BMC Chapter 17.10 and the Washington State Building Code (Chapter 51-50 WAC), effective March 15, 2024. ISPSC Section 305.2 requires a barrier not less than 48 inches above grade measured on the side of the barrier facing away from the pool, openings that do not allow passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere, and pedestrian access gates that open outward away from the pool with a self-closing and self-latching device. Bellingham's perimeter pool fence must also satisfy the BMC 20.30.110 yard height limits (72 inches interior side/rear; 54 inches front interior lot; 42 inches corner lot or flanking street) and the BMC 20.12.060 vision clearance triangle.

Key details: Minimum Barrier Height: 48 inches above grade (ISPSC 305.2.1). Max Sphere Opening: No 4-inch sphere may pass (ISPSC 305.2.2). Max Grade Clearance: 2 inches (4 inches on solid surface) per ISPSC 305.2.1. Pedestrian Gate: Self-closing, self-latching, opens outward (ISPSC 305.3.1). Code Adoption: BMC Chapter 17.10 adopts 2021 ISPSC under WAC 51-50.

A residential pool barrier shorter than 48 inches above grade violates ISPSC 305.2.1 as adopted under BMC 17.10. A barrier with openings allowing a 4-inch-diameter sphere to pass violates ISPSC 305.2.2. A pedestrian gate that does not open outward, is not self-closing, or lacks a self-latching device violates ISPSC 305.3.1. Failed barrier inspection by the Bellingham Permit Center will block the final pool inspection and the pool may not be placed in service.

This is one of the stricter rules in Bellingham's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Bellingham gives residents more room on fence regulations. 2 of the 8 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Bellingham's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.