Fence Regulations in Vancouver, WA (2026)
5 verified fence regulations for Vancouver, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Vancouver regulates fences under VMC 20.912. Front yard fences are limited to 4 feet and side/rear yard fences to 6 feet in residential zones. Corner lots have visibility triangle requirements.
Vancouver Fence Height Limits & Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsPermit Requirements
Standard residential fences under 6 feet in Vancouver generally do not require a building permit. Fences over 6 feet, retaining walls, and masonry walls require permits.
Vancouver Fence Permits & Installation Requirements
Some RestrictionsNeighbor Fence Rules
Washington state does not have a mandatory fence cost-sharing law. In Vancouver, the property owner who builds a fence is responsible for its cost. Disputes are civil matters.
Vancouver Fence Rules Between Neighbors
Few RestrictionsRetaining Walls
Vancouver's Municipal Code Chapter 20.912 governs all fences, walls, and retaining walls citywide. Residential fences have tiered height limits by yard location; retaining walls under 4 feet are permit-exempt, while taller walls require a building permit.
Vancouver WA Fence and Retaining Wall Height Rules
Some RestrictionsMaterial Restrictions
Vancouver prohibits barbed wire, razor wire, and electrically charged fences as accessories to residential uses. In commercial and industrial zones these materials are only permitted as the top portion of a security fence, limited to 2 feet of wire angled inward atop a 6-foot fence.