Fence Regulations in Lewis County, WA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Lewis County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Lewis County does not cap fence height generally in unincorporated residential zones, but Lewis County Code § 17.145.140 limits fences, walls and hedges to four feet (or a see-through material) inside the vision clearance triangles at street corners and alley entrances, so drivers and pedestrians can see approaching traffic.
Fence Height Near Intersections, Lewis County
Some RestrictionsLewis County Code § 17.145.140
§ 17.145.140. Clear view triangle. (1) Visibility at Intersections in Residential Zones. Fences, walls, or hedges may be installed except in the following instances in which they may only be four feet or of a substance which does not interfere with traffic visibility: (a) Within a 25-foot vision clearance triangle formed by the intersection of two street rights-of-way. (b) Within a 10-foot visi...
Fence Permit Requirements
Unincorporated Lewis County requires a building permit before erecting any "structure," and its zoning code defines a fence six feet or less in height as not a structure at all. Read together, a fence taller than six feet needs a permit from the community development building section, while a shorter fence does not.
Fence Permit Rules in Lewis County
Some RestrictionsLewis County Code § 15.05.020(1)(b); § 17.10.190; § 17.145.140(1)(a)-(b)
Any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the ...
Retaining Walls
In unincorporated Lewis County, a retaining wall built within a public road right-of-way must be reviewed by the county engineer and stamped by a Washington-licensed engineer before the county will approve it. Community Development and Public Works share sign-off.
Retaining Walls in Lewis County
Some RestrictionsLewis County Code § 12.60.780
Retaining walls within a public right-of-way are reviewed by the county engineer. Retaining walls shall be designed, signed, and stamped by a registered engineer licensed in the state of Washington, and shall be submitted by the applicant for approval by the county engineer and building official. A soils investigation and report by a geotechnical engineer may be required by the county if soil c...
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