Fence Regulations in Bellingham, WA (2026)
5 verified fence regulations for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Bellingham, Washington caps fences at 54 inches in front yards, 42 inches on corner and flanking-street yards, 72 inches in side and rear yards, and 36 inches in the vision clearance triangle.
Bellingham Fence Height Limits By Yard
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 20.12.050(A)
Fences, walls, and hedges when located within a required yard shall not exceed the following height limits: 1. Front yard on an interior lot: 54 inches (four feet, six inches). 2. Front yard on a corner lot: 42 inches (three feet, six inches). 3. Side yard on a flanking street: 42 inches (three feet, six inches). 4. Interior side and rear yards: 72 inches (six feet). 5. Vision clearance triangl...
Fence Permit Requirements
Bellingham exempts fences up to 8 feet tall from building permits, as long as they carry no masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet.
Bellingham Fence Permit Threshold
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 17.10.020 (Construction Administrative Code § 105.2, Building item 2)
Permits shall not be required for the following: Building: 1. One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, greenhouses, tree-supported play structures, playhouses and similar uses, provided the projected roof area does not exceed 120 square feet IBC (11.14 m2) or 200 square feet IRC and the structure is located in accordance with all land use regulations; 2. Fences...
Neighbor Fence Rules
A Bellingham fence over the zoning height limit needs written consent from every abutting property owner before the city will approve it.
Bellingham Fence Height Exception Consent
Significant RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 20.12.050(C)(3)
Fences, walls and hedges may be permitted to exceed the maximum height if the following information is submitted, and an administrative exception is approved... 3. The written consent of all abutting property owners. Upon submittal of the information, the planning and public works directors or their delegates must find that the fence as proposed will not be detrimental to the neighborhood in te...
Retaining Walls
Bellingham exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet in height from a building permit, but walls over that height, or any wall supporting a surcharge or impounding hazardous liquids, require a permit.
Bellingham Retaining Wall Permits
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 17.10.020 (Construction Administrative Code § 105.2, Building item 5)
Retaining walls which are not over 4 feet (1,219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids; 6. Water tanks supported directly on grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,925 L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1; 7. Sidewalks and driveway...
Material Restrictions
Bellingham declares barbed-wire fencing within two feet of a public street, alley, or path, and all electrified fencing anywhere in the city, a public nuisance subject to abatement.
Bellingham Bans Barbed Wire, Electric Fences
Significant RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 10.28.020(F)
All barbed-wire fences which are located within two feet of any highway, alley, or way regularly used by the public for pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicular travel; and all electrified fences; G. All trees which are growing on property adjacent to public sidewalks whose limbs are less than eight feet above the surface of the sidewalk or public pedestrian way; or trees, regardless of their locatio...
Looking for Whatcom County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellingham city rules.
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