Bellevue caps fences at 4 ft in front yards and 6 ft in side and rear yards under LUC 20.20.400. Corner visibility triangles limit height to 3 ft. Fences over 6 ft need a permit.
Land Use Code 20.20.400 sets residential fence height limits: front yard fences (between the street and the required front setback line) may not exceed 4 feet in height; side yard and rear yard fences may be up to 6 feet; fences on the street side of corner lots are limited to 4 feet within the required street setback. Fences exceeding 6 feet anywhere on the property require a building permit from the Development Services Department and structural review. Within a clear sight triangle 15 feet from the intersection of two street rights-of-way (or driveway and street), fence height is limited to 3 feet to preserve driver visibility. Retaining walls do not count as fences but may be regulated separately when combined heights exceed 6 feet. Height is measured from the lowest adjacent finished grade. Fences in shoreline zones (Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish frontage) have additional limits under the Shoreline Master Program. HOA rules may impose stricter height and material standards than city code.
Over-height fence without permit: LUC 20.20.400 violation. Code Compliance issues notice of correction requiring removal or modification, with escalating fines for non-compliance.
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