Bellingham, WA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard, interior lot
- 54 inches maximum
- Front yard, corner lot
- 42 inches maximum
- Interior side/rear yard
- 72 inches maximum
- Vision clearance triangle
- 36 inches maximum
Summary
Bellingham, Washington caps fences at 54 inches in front yards, 42 inches on corner and flanking-street yards, 72 inches in side and rear yards, and 36 inches in the vision clearance triangle.
Fences, walls, and hedges when located within a required yard shall not exceed the following height limits: 1. Front yard on an interior lot: 54 inches (four feet, six inches). 2. Front yard on a corner lot: 42 inches (three feet, six inches). 3. Side yard on a flanking street: 42 inches (three feet, six inches). 4. Interior side and rear yards: 72 inches (six feet). 5. Vision clearance triangle: 36 inches (three feet).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Bellingham Municipal Code § 20.12.050(A) sets citywide fence, wall, and hedge height limits within required yards: 54 inches in an interior lot's front yard, 42 inches on a corner lot's front yard or a flanking-street side yard, 72 inches in interior side and rear yards, and 36 inches within the vision clearance triangle at intersections. Fences outside a required yard may rise to the height limit of the zone. Property owners can seek an administrative exception to exceed these limits by submitting site plans and written consent from all abutting neighbors, subject to city findings on view, light, air, and traffic safety.
Violations & Fines
Fences built taller than these limits without an approved administrative exception are a zoning code violation, and the city can require the fence be lowered or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a backyard fence be in Bellingham?
Can a Bellingham homeowner get a taller fence approved?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellingham
How Bellingham compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Bellingham to another location·View the Washington fence regulations overview
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