Kennewick's Fence Regulations: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles fence regulations a little differently. In Kennewick, Washington, there are 4 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
Kennewick exempts retaining walls under four feet from a building permit, but any wall 60 inches or more above grade on a lot line needs a guardrail or fence at least 36 inches high.
Key details: Permit-exempt height: Under 4 feet. Guardrail trigger height: 60 inches or more. Required guardrail height: At least 36 inches. Exempt-height exception: Not if supporting surcharge/liquids.
Skipping the required building permit above four feet, or omitting the top guardrail on a wall 60 inches or taller, violates KMC 15.08.060 and 18.27.050(3), enforceable as a Title 18 misdemeanor under KMC 18.54.090.
Height Limits
In Kennewick's R districts, fences top out at 30 inches within the intersection sight triangle, 36 inches in a required front yard, and six feet elsewhere on the lot, per KMC 18.27.050.
Key details: Sight-triangle limit: 30 inches above curb grade. Front-yard limit: 36 inches above curb grade. Side/rear limit: 6 feet above grade. Sport-court exception: Chain link over 6 ft allowed.
Fences exceeding these height caps, especially inside a required sight triangle, violate KMC 18.27.050 and 18.27.060 and can be ordered lowered or removed as a Title 18 misdemeanor under KMC 18.54.090.
Material Restrictions
Kennewick limits residential fences to chain link, wood, masonry, ornamental iron, or equivalent synthetic materials, and reserves barbwire and electric-wire fencing for animal or crop use in the Residential Suburban district only.
Key details: Allowed materials: Chain link, wood, masonry, ornamental iron. Barbwire/electric wire: RS district only, for animals/crops. Post standard: Steel or pressure-treated wood posts. Wind rating: 80 mph minimum windload.
Installing barbwire or electric-wire fencing outside the RS district, using materials not commonly accepted for residential fencing, or building a fence over 36 inches without code-compliant posts violates KMC 18.27.040 and can trigger removal.
Fence Permit Requirements
Kennewick's zoning code ties fence construction to the building code. KMC 18.27.040 requires all fences to conform to Title 15, and fences aren't on the city's short permit-exemption list.
Key details: Fence rule: Must conform to Title 15. Post rule: Steel or treated wood over 36 in.. Wind rating: 80 mph minimum. Exempt list: Fences absent from KMC 15.08.060. Citation: KMC 18.27.040(1).
Fences that don't conform to Title 15 and Chapter 18.27's post, material, and windload standards are subject to Building Official and code-compliance enforcement action.
The Bottom Line
Kennewick's fence regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Kennewick is broadly strict or permissive.
This guide is based on Kennewick's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.