7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Snohomish County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Snohomish County, fences up to eight feet tall are allowed without a building permit, and fences six feet or less may sit in any required front, side, or rear yard without a setback. Taller site-obscuring fences must meet the zone's building setback.
SCC 30.28.040(4)
Fences and freestanding walls six feet or less in height shall be set back the width of any required landscaped area, or where no landscaped area is required, may be allowed without a setback in any required front, side, or rear yard.
Unincorporated Snohomish County exempts fences up to eight feet high from a building permit, as long as they have no masonry or concrete above six feet. Taller fences, or those with masonry above six feet, require a permit from Planning and Development Services.
SCC 30.50.103(1)(b)
Fences not over eight feet (2,438 mm) high that do not have masonry or concrete elements above six feet (1,829 mm). This calculation shall not include wire strands on top of eight foot fences when permitted under this title. The fence shall be set back in accordance with this title.
Snohomish County Code does not assign shared-fence cost or ownership between neighbors, but it does limit what can sit near a property line: fences over six feet must meet the building setback, and corner-lot fences must stay under 42 inches inside the sight-clearance triangle.
SCC 30.23.100
For safety purposes, all owners of corner lots shall maintain a sight clearance triangle... Within the area comprising the triangle, no tree, fence, shrub, sign, or other physical obstruction higher than 42 inches above the established road network element grade shall be permitted.
In unincorporated Snohomish County, a retaining wall up to four feet high (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) is exempt from a building permit unless it supports a surcharge. Walls over four feet, or supporting extra load, need a permit.
SCC 30.50.103(1)(c)
Retaining walls that 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.
Snohomish County requires fences six feet or less to sit within any required landscaped-area width, or without a setback where none is required; taller site-obscuring fences must meet the building setback. All corner-lot fences must keep the 15-foot sight-clearance triangle clear above 42 inches.
SCC 30.28.040(6)
Site-obscuring fences and freestanding walls in excess of six feet shall meet the required building setback or the width of any required or approved landscaped area if less than the required building setback.
Snohomish County allows up to three strands of wire on top of fences six feet or less high. Fences taller than eight feet, or those with masonry or concrete elements above six feet, lose the building-permit exemption and require a permit.
SCC 30.28.040(3)
Up to three strands of wire are allowed on top of fences six feet or less in height.
Snohomish County Code sets no approved-materials list for residential fences; wood, vinyl, chain-link, and similar materials are all permissible. The controlling limits are on height (eight feet without a permit), masonry above six feet, wire strands, and corner-lot visibility.
SCC 30.50.103(1)(b)
Fences not over eight feet (2,438 mm) high that do not have masonry or concrete elements above six feet (1,829 mm).
4 cities in Snohomish County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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