Lacey, WA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Lacey Municipal Code § 16.03.070(A) sets three height caps for residential property in the City of Lacey. The first is the front yard: free-standing walls, fences or hedges placed in the front yard of residential buildings cannot exceed three feet. The second is the side or rear yard, where the cap is seven feet. Both of those caps carry the same exception: a taller masonry wall is allowed where the responsible official requires one to mitigate significant noise impacts. The third is transparent fencing. Any decorative wall or fence that allows visibility, with wrought iron and split rail named as examples, has a maximum height of eight feet.

Which cap applies depends on how the zoning title defines the yard. Under § 16.06.780 a front yard extends across the full width of the lot, with depth measured from the street line to the exterior wall. Under § 16.06.810 a side yard runs from the front yard to the rear yard, and on a corner lot the side yard on the flanking street extends to the rear property line. Under § 16.06.790 a corner lot's rear yard runs from the interior side property line to the opposite side yard. Section 16.03.070 prints no separate corner visibility figure.

Section 16.03.030 treats the zoning title as minimum requirements and says that where it conflicts with another lawfully adopted rule, the more restrictive or higher standard governs. A property owner with a disability can ask for a modification of a development standard through the reasonable accommodation process in § 16.03.080, filed on a form from the community and economic development department and appealable under Chapter 11.05.