Fence Regulations in Bellingham, WA (2026)
8 verified fence regulations for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Fence Height Limits in Bellingham
Some RestrictionsPermit 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.
Fence Permit Requirements in Bellingham
Some RestrictionsNeighbor 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.
Neighbor Rules for Fences in Bellingham
Few RestrictionsRetaining 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.
Retaining Wall Rules in Bellingham
Some RestrictionsPool 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.
Pool Barrier Rules in Bellingham
Heavy RestrictionsFence 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.
General Fence Requirements in Bellingham
Some RestrictionsMaterial 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.
Fence Material Restrictions in Bellingham
Some RestrictionsApproved 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.
Permitted Fence Materials in Bellingham
Few RestrictionsLooking for Whatcom County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellingham city rules.
Fence Regulations in Whatcom County →