Fence Regulations in Pierce County, WA (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Pierce County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Height Limits
Fences in unincorporated Pierce County may be placed within required setbacks up to 6 feet without a permit, must be measured from the adjacent ground including all attachments, and must preserve corner and driveway sight distance under Title 17B PCC. Cities set their own separate requirements.
Pierce County Fence Requirements
Some RestrictionsPCC 18A.15.040.B.2.d
The height of a fence shall be measured from a point on the ground immediately adjacent to the fence to the top of the fence. The height of a fence located on a rockery, retaining wall, or berm shall be measured from the ground on the high side of the rockery, retaining wall, or berm.
Fence Permit Requirements
A building permit is not required for fences 6 feet or under in unincorporated Pierce County. Fences taller than 6 feet require a building permit and must meet setbacks. Retaining walls over 4 feet also need a permit under the county's adopted residential building code.
Pierce County Fence Permits
Some RestrictionsPCC 17C.30.040
Section R105.2 of the International Residential Code is amended as follows: ... 2. Fences not over six feet (1829 mm) high. 3. Retaining walls that are not over four feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
Neighbor Fence Rules
Pierce County zoning does not set a shared-cost or boundary fence-ownership rule; those are civil matters between neighbors. The county does require that fences at corners and driveways meet the sight-distance standards of Title 17B PCC so views of traffic stay clear.
Pierce County Fences and Neighbor Rules
Few RestrictionsPCC 18A.15.040.B.2.d
Fences and retaining walls may be erected within required setbacks to a maximum height of 6 feet ... provided all applicable sight distance requirements of Title 17B PCC are met.
Retaining Walls
A retaining wall in unincorporated Pierce County needs no building permit if it stands four feet or less, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, and does not support a surcharge, under PCC 17C.30.040. Anything taller, or any wall carrying extra load behind it, must go through the standard building permit process under Chapter 17C.10 PCC, including plan review and inspection.
Pierce County Retaining Wall Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsPCC 17C.30.040
Section R105.2 of the International Residential Code is amended as follows: 3. Retaining walls that are not over four feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge. ... Exemption from the permit requirements of this Code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the pr...
Material Restrictions
Pierce County does not ban barbed wire outright. PCC 18A.15.040.B.2.d caps fences and retaining walls in required setbacks at 6 feet, rising to 8 feet only for security fencing on a Utility, Industrial, or Agricultural use, and barbed wire or any other security device on top counts toward that measured height.
Pierce County Fence Height and Barbed Wire Rule
Some RestrictionsPierce County Code 18A.15.040.B.2.d
d. Fences and Retaining Walls. Fences and retaining walls may be erected within required setbacks to a maximum height of 6 feet, or a maximum height of 8 feet for security fencing necessary for a Utility Use, Industrial Use, or an Agricultural Use; provided all applicable sight distance requirements of Title 17B PCC are met. (1) The height of a fence shall be measured from a point on the ground...
Fence Regulations by City in Pierce County
2 cities in Pierce County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Pierce County ordinances
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