Fence Regulations in Everett, WA (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Everett, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Everett caps residential fences at 42 inches within 20 feet of the front lot line, 6 feet in street-side setbacks, and 7 feet in interior side or rear setbacks, with taller transparent fences allowed near the front.
Everett Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 19.40.010
A. Residential Zones—Fence Height and Setbacks. Fences shall not exceed a height of: 1. Forty-two inches within twenty feet of the right-of-way abutting the front lot line. 2. Six feet within the street side setback or the abutting right-of-way. 3. Seven feet within the interior side or rear setbacks.
Fence Permit Requirements
Before erecting or re-erecting any fence in Everett, Washington, property owners must obtain a building and/or electrical permit from the city building department. Everett Municipal Code § 16.56.030 sets the requirement without an exemption for short, temporary or replacement fences. The police chief enforces the fence chapter, and violators face the city's general code-enforcement penalties under Chapter 1.20 EMC.
Everett Requires a Permit Before Any Fence Is Built
Some RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 16.56.030; § 16.56.040; § 16.56.050
16.56.030 Permits required. A building and/or electrical permit shall be obtained, from the building department, prior to erection or re-erection of any fence. (Prior code § 2.40.030.) ... 16.56.040 Enforcement. The chief of police and/or the chief's duly authorized representative shall be the enforcing officer of this chapter. ... 16.56.050 Penalty for violations. Any person or persons violati...
Retaining Walls
Everett limits how tall a fence can be built on top of a retaining wall or berm: the normal fence-height max applies above walls 6 feet or under, but the fence is capped at 42 inches on taller walls.
Everett Fences On Retaining Walls
Some RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 19.40.010(E)
E. Retaining Walls and Berms. Fences placed on top of berms shall be constructed so as not to exceed the maximum height allowed if the berm were not there. Fences placed upon rockeries or retaining walls shall be permitted to be constructed to the maximum allowable fence height above the rockery or retaining wall, provided the rockery or retaining wall does not exceed a height of six feet. Fenc...
Material Restrictions
Everett bans barbed wire, razor wire and similar materials on residential fences (except around utility, communications or government security facilities) and bars chain link and wire fencing on street-facing lot lines, in MU/UR7 zones, and in historic overlays.
Everett Barbed Wire and Chain Link Rules
Significant RestrictionsEverett Municipal Code § 19.40.020
A. Barbed wire, razor wire and other such materials are not permitted in any residential zone except for security facilities around utility or communications facilities, or government facilities. In commercial and industrial zones, these fencing materials are permitted only atop a fence or wall at least six feet in height... B. Wire, excluding chain link, corrugated, nondecorative sheet metal, ...
Looking for Snohomish County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Everett city rules.
Fence Regulations in Snohomish County →