King County, WA Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- By-right fence height
- 6 feet at property line
- Taller fences
- must meet zone setbacks
- Fence-on-berm combined cap
- 10 feet (R-1-R-18, UR, RA)
- Barbed/razor wire
- banned in R-4 through R-48
- Governs
- unincorporated King County only
Summary
In unincorporated King County, fences over 6 feet tall must meet the zone's street and interior setback lines, not just sit on the property line.
21A.14.220 Fences. Fences are permitted as follows: A. Fences exceeding a height of six feet shall comply with the applicable street and interior setbacks of the zone in which the property is located... D. Except as specifically required for the necessary security related to a nonresidential use, no barbed or razor-wire fence shall be located in any R-4 through R-48 zone.
Full Breakdown
King County Code § 21A.14.220 lets you build a fence to the property line only up to 6 feet. Go taller and the fence has to comply with the applicable street and interior setbacks for the zone. Put the fence on a rockery, retaining wall, or berm within a setback and different combined-height caps kick in: 10 feet total (fence plus mound) in R-1 through R-18, UR, RA and resource zones, with the fence itself capped at 6 feet measured from the top of the mound; in R-24, R-48 and commercial/industrial zones the fence portion is also capped at 6 feet. Anything above 8 feet total must be open-work construction. Electric fences are allowed in every zone but are voltage-limited and must carry warning signs in R-4 through R-48; barbed or razor wire is banned in R-4 through R-48 except for nonresidential security uses.
Violations & Fines
Fences over the limit without a setback-compliant design, or barbed/razor wire in residential zones, are code violations handled through King County Permitting's code enforcement process, which can order removal or modification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a fence taller than 6 feet in King County?
Does this apply inside Seattle or other cities?
Are barbed wire fences allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in King County
How King County compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare King County to another location·View the Washington fence regulations overview
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