Bellingham, WA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

BMC 20.30.110 (Fences) sets fence height by yard type within a required yard: 54 inches in the front yard on an interior lot, 42 inches in the front yard on a corner lot, 42 inches in the side yard on a flanking street, 72 inches in interior side and rear yards, and 36 inches within the vision clearance triangle established under BMC 20.12.060. The chapter explains that 'height is measured from the ground level adjacent to the outside edge of the wall or fence' and that 'when fences are constructed on top of walls, both are included in the calculation of height.' A 'required yard' is the area between a property line and the setback line under BMC 20.10.080 (Yards). Outside required yards, fences are subject to the building-structure height limits of the zoning district. Fences in the front and side-street setbacks of certain housing types are further limited under BMC 20.28.050 (general standards) to 42 inches and not more than 60 percent opaque, and chain link or cyclone fencing is not allowed in the front or side-street setback for those housing types. Under BMC 20.30.110, fences may exceed the maximum height only if an administrative exception is approved by the planning and public works directors after finding the fence will not be detrimental to the neighborhood in terms of view, light, and air, nor injurious to traffic safety.