Fence Regulations in Kennewick, WA (2026)
4 verified fence regulations for Kennewick, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Kennewick Fence Height Limits
Some RestrictionsKennewick Municipal Code § 18.27.050(1) (Ord. 5407 Sec. 10, 2012: Ord. 5180 Sec. 1, 2007)
Fences, hedges, walls and the like in "R" districts may not be higher than 30 inches above the top of curb grade within a sight triangle as specified in 18.27.060, 36 inches above the top of curb grade in a required front yard or six feet above grade on other parts of the site. Chain link fences over six feet high are permitted around basketball courts, tennis courts, and similar activities if ...
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.
Kennewick Fence Building Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsKennewick Municipal Code § 18.27.040 (Ord. 5180 Sec. 1, 2007)
(1)All fences must conform to the provisions of Title 15 and Chapters 18.12, 18.75 and 18.78.(2)All fences in excess of 36 inches in height must be constructed with steel posts or with pressure-treated wood posts. Wooden posts must be set in gravel and compacted by earth. Steel posts must be set in concrete. Fences must be adequate to withstand a minimum windload of 80 miles per hour.(3)All fen...
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.
Kennewick Retaining Wall Rules
Some RestrictionsKennewick Municipal Code §§ 15.08.060(1)(c) and 18.27.050(3)
(c)Retaining walls which are not over four 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....(3)If a retaining wall is 60 inches or more above the adjacent grade and is located along a lot line, a guardrail or fence not less than 36 inches high must be placed along the top of the...
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.
Kennewick Fence Material Rules
Some RestrictionsKennewick Municipal Code § 18.27.040(3)-(4) (Ord. 5180 Sec. 1, 2007)
(3)All fences in residential zones except Residential, Suburban shall be constructed of material commonly used in residential fence construction, such as chain link, wood slat, masonry walls, ornamental iron, wood pickets, and similar material. Fences of synthetic materials that have the functional equivalence of natural or traditional material may be substituted. The Planning Director may adop...
Looking for Benton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kennewick city rules.
Fence Regulations in Benton County →