7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in King County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated King County, fences 6 feet or less in height may be built on or within property lines without a building permit. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit and must meet the setback requirements for the parcel's zone under K.C.C. 21A.14.220 and the density and dimensions tables in K.C.C. 21A.12.030 (residential and rural) or K.C.C. 21A.12.040 (resource and commercial/industrial). Properties containing critical areas - wetlands, streams, flood hazard areas, or steep slopes - have additional limits and may require permits even for shorter fences. Cities like Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton, and Federal Way enforce their own municipal fence rules within city limits.
Unincorporated King County requires a permit for fences over 6 ft tall and retaining walls over 4 ft. Fences at or under 6 ft usually need no permit but must meet setback and critical-area rules.
Washington has no good-neighbor fence statute. King County treats boundary fence disputes as civil matters. Fences must sit on the owner side of the line unless neighbors record an agreement.
King County requires a permit for any retaining wall over 4 ft tall or any wall supporting a surcharge load. Walls in landslide or steep-slope critical areas need geotechnical review regardless of height.
King County follows Washington State Building Code pool barrier rules. Residential pools and spas over 24 in deep need a 48-in barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates opening outward from the pool.
In unincorporated King County, front-yard fences may be up to 4 ft tall and side and rear fences up to 6 ft. Corner lots must keep vision clearance. Critical-area buffers may restrict fencing.
Unincorporated King County does not restrict typical residential fence materials (wood, vinyl, chain link, iron). Barbed wire is restricted in residential zones. Electric fences allowed for agriculture with signage.
8 cities in King County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
2 verified rules • Height Limits, Material Restrictions
7 verified rules • Fence Requirements, Height Limits
7 verified rules • Fence Requirements, Height Limits
7 verified rules • Fence Requirements, Height Limits
7 verified rules • Fence Requirements, Height Limits
7 verified rules • Fence Requirements, Height Limits
7 verified rules • Fence Requirements, Height Limits
7 verified rules • Fence Requirements, Height Limits
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