How Lynnwood Handles Fence Regulations: A Practical Guide

Lynnwood maintains 115 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with fence regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Lynnwood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Fence Permit Requirements

Lynnwood's code sets no separate standalone permit for a fence that already meets its height and location standards, but nonconforming fences for parks or to stop illegal dumping, appeals of a staff fence determination, and hardship variances all go through fence permit review, decided by the administrator or, on appeal, the hearing examiner.

Key details: Compliant fence: no standalone city permit identified. Park/anti-dumping exception fence: administrator approval required. Appeals and hardship variances: decided by hearing examiner. Electric fence in LI/P-I: miscellaneous or essential-facility permit. General review procedure: Chapter 8.90 LMC.

A fence built under a claimed park, recreation or anti-dumping exception without the administrator's approval, or one that defies conditions the hearing examiner stipulated on appeal or variance, is a zoning violation enforceable through the code compliance process in Chapter 8.90 LMC; an electric fence installed outside the LI or P-I zones without the required miscellaneous or essential-public-facility permit is prohibited outright under LMC 8.40.0340(B) regardless of any later permit request.

Lynnwood is more permissive than most cities when it comes to fence permit requirements. That said, there are still limits.

Height Limits

Lynnwood caps vision-obscuring fences, hedges and walls at six feet in residential zones (eight feet with a decorative arbor or trellis on top) and at eight feet in commercial or industrial zones, while barring any vision-obscuring fence within 15 feet of a street lot line or inside an intersection or driveway sight-distance triangle.

Key details: Residential vision-obscuring cap: 6 ft (8 ft with adornment). Commercial/industrial cap: 8 ft. Street lot line setback: 15 ft. Intersection sight triangle: two 30-ft sides. Driveway sight triangle: two 15-ft sides.

A vision-obscuring fence, hedge or wall built above the six-foot residential or eight-foot commercial/industrial cap, or placed within 15 feet of a street lot line or inside an intersection or driveway sight-distance triangle, violates LMC 8.40.0330 and is enforced through the code compliance process in Chapter 8.90 LMC; a disputed fence determination can be appealed to the hearing examiner under LMC 8.40.0310(E), which may order the fence modified or removed.

Material Restrictions

Lynnwood prohibits electric fences citywide except in the LI and P-I zones with administrator approval, and bans barbed wire fencing entirely unless it tops a six-foot solid or chain-link fence around a public utility, industrial plant site or similar use the administrator has approved.

Key details: Electric fences: banned citywide except LI/P-I. Electric fence approval: administrator, miscellaneous/essential-facility permit. Barbed wire: banned except atop 6-ft utility/industrial fence. Self-storage fences: chain-link prohibited (LMC 8.35.0375). Electric fence standard: must meet state/city electrical code.

Installing or maintaining an unapproved electric fence outside the LI or P-I zones, or any barbed wire fencing not confined to the top of an approved six-foot solid or chain-link fence at a utility or industrial site, violates LMC 8.40.0340 or 8.40.0350 and is enforced through the code compliance process in Chapter 8.90 LMC, which can order the fence removed or brought into conformance; a self-storage operator who installs chain-link fencing instead of the required decorative material also violates the separate standard in LMC 8.35.0375(A)(1)(a).

Compared to other cities, Lynnwood takes a harder line on material restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Retaining Walls

Where a rockery or retaining wall under six feet high sits in the planting strip between the sidewalk and the street, Lynnwood makes the abutting property owner responsible for maintaining, repairing, and reconstructing it, not the city.

Key details: Structure covered: rockeries/retaining walls under 6 ft. Height measured: base, averaged property line to line. Maintenance duty: abutting property owner. Location covered: within the transition strip. Violation fine: up to $250.00 per offense.

Failing to maintain, repair, or reconstruct a qualifying rockery or retaining wall in the transition strip is a public nuisance under LMC 12.12.090. An abutting owner who does not abate it within 45 days of written notice faces a fine of up to $250.00 per offense, with each additional day of noncompliance chargeable as a separate violation, and the city may also do the work itself and lien the property for its costs and attorneys' fees under LMC 12.12.080.

The Bottom Line

Lynnwood'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 Lynnwood is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Lynnwood's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.