Thurston County, WA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Side/rear yard max
- 6 ft behind front building line
- Front yard max
- 4 ft forward of front line
- Applies only within
- Village Center Ordinance overlay projects
- Minimum project size
- 60 contiguous acres required
- Citation
- TCC § 21.50.060(B)(12)(g)
Summary
Within Thurston County's Village Center zoning overlay, fences top out at six feet in side and rear yards behind the front building line, and four feet forward of that line and along the front lot line.
The maximum height of a fence shall be six feet along side and rear yards behind the front building line, and four feet forward of the front building line and along the front property line.h.Materials. Exterior finishes shall be primarily wood and/or masonry. Rated panel siding such as T1-11 shall not be used.i.Roofs. Hipped, gabled, or gambrel roofs are required. Flat roofs are not permitted. For long roofs on larger buildings architectural elements must be used to break up the roof line. Architecturally, a structure can contain balconies, bay windows, dormers, covered entries, chimneys and other features to break up the roof line and provide architectural interest.j.Accessory Dwellings. Accessory dwellings include apartments integrated within single-family dwellings, or those located in detached accessory buildings located on the same lot as single-family dwellings. Accessory dwellings shall be limited to eight hundred fifty square feet in floor area and, for the purposes of calculating residential density, shall not count as a dwelling unit. There shall not be more than one accessory dwelling located on a lot in addition to the single-family dwelling. Refer to Illustration 13. Illustration 13. Accessory dwellings may take the form of detached structures. This is a photo of an accessory unit located at the rear of a lot.
Illustration 13. Accessory dwellings may take the form of detached structures. This is a photo of an accessory unit located at the rear of a lot.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 77).
Full Breakdown
Thurston County Code § 21.50.060(B)(12)(g) sets the fence standard for Village Center developments: six feet in side and rear yards behind the front building line, dropping to four feet forward of that line and along the front property line. This design standard lives inside the Village Center Ordinance (Chapter 21.50), the county's master-planned neighborhood tool for the Lacey urban growth area, and only kicks in on projects of at least sixty contiguous acres approved under that chapter. Outside an approved Village Center, this zoning title carries no comparable general fence-height cap for ordinary residential lots.
Violations & Fines
A fence over six feet in a Village Center's side or rear yard, or over four feet forward of the front building line, violates the design standard and can be cited during plan review or code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this six-foot fence limit apply anywhere in Thurston County?
How tall can a fence be along the street in a Village Center?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thurston County
How Thurston County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Thurston County to another location·View the Washington fence regulations overview
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