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Port Townsend, WA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Solid fence in front setback
4 ft max
Open fence in front setback
8 ft max (90% open above 6 ft)
Side/rear (no street) or interior
8 ft max
Corner sight triangle
30 in max, 20x20 ft

Summary

Fences in Port Townsend setbacks top out at 4 feet solid, 8 feet with open construction, and 30 inches in the corner sight triangle.

No fence, wall, arbor, hedge or other partially or totally sight-obscuring installation or feature over 30 inches in height which poses a traffic safety hazard shall be located within a clear vision area... The maximum height that is up to 100 percent solid shall be four feet. Any portion between four and six feet in height shall be no less than 50 percent open... Any portion between six and eight feet in height shall be no less than 90 percent open.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).

Full Breakdown

PTMC 17.68.030 caps fences in a front setback abutting a street right-of-way at 4 feet if fully solid; anything from 4 to 6 feet must be at least 50 percent open, and 6 to 8 feet must be at least 90 percent open, topping out at 8 feet overall. Side or rear setbacks not facing a street, and any fence outside the required setback, may run the full 8 feet regardless of openness. Height is measured from natural grade within 2 feet of the fence on the lower side. Near intersections, nothing over 30 inches tall is allowed inside the 20-by-20-foot corner sight triangle. Fences over 6 feet may need a building permit under Chapter 16.04 PTMC.

Violations & Fines

Planning and Community Development (code compliance) can require removal or reconstruction of a noncompliant fence; fences over 6 feet built without a required permit can trigger IRC/Chapter 16.04 permit enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a solid 8-foot privacy fence in my front yard in Port Townsend?
No. In the setback facing the street, a fully solid fence is capped at 4 feet; taller sections up to 8 feet must be increasingly open (50% then 90%).
How tall can a side-yard fence be in Port Townsend?
Up to 8 feet in a side or rear setback that doesn't abut a street right-of-way, per PTMC 17.68.030(C)(2).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Port Townsend

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsFence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsMaterial RestrictionsSome RestrictionsRetaining WallsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Wildfire ZonesSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Brush ClearanceSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Weed OrdinancesSome Restrictions

All Port Townsend rules

How Port Townsend compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Port Townsend to another location·View the Washington fence regulations overview

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