Yakima fence heights are governed by YMC 15.05.020(G) of the Yakima Urban Area Zoning Ordinance (Title 15 YUAZO). In the front yard within the required setback, no fence or wall may exceed 4 feet. In residential districts, 6 feet is the maximum height in the front yard behind the required setback, and 6 feet is the maximum in side and rear yards (8 feet where the rear yard abuts a designated arterial). In commercial and industrial districts, 8 feet is the maximum in all yards behind the front-yard setback. Within a clear view triangle (YMC 15.05.040), no fence, hedge, or wall may exceed 2.5 feet. All fences over 6 feet must meet the provisions of the International Building Code.
YMC 15.05.020(G) provides the location and height rules for fences and walls. Front yard: 'Fences and walls may be placed on or behind the property line, but no fence or wall shall exceed four feet in height within the required front yard setback area. In residential districts, six feet shall be the maximum height in the front yard behind the required setback. In commercial and industrial districts, eight feet shall be the maximum height in the front yard behind the required setback.' Side yard and street side yard: 'In residential districts, six feet shall be the maximum height; provided, that no six-foot street side yard fence shall extend past the front corner of the dwelling into the front yard or be located within the clear view triangle. In the commercial and industrial districts, eight feet shall be the maximum height.' Rear yard: 'In the residential districts six feet is the maximum fence or wall height in the rear yard; provided, that when the rear yard abuts a designated arterial, the maximum height shall be eight feet. Eight feet is the maximum rear yard fence height in the commercial and industrial districts.' Clear view triangle: 'No fence, hedge or wall, exceeding two and one-half feet in height, shall be placed in the clear view triangles established in YMC 15.05.040.' Combined fence/retaining wall cap: 'No combination of a fence and retaining wall shall exceed a height of ten feet, measured from the lower elevation.' All fences over six feet in height must meet the provisions of the International Building Code as adopted in Washington under WAC 51-50.
A front-yard fence taller than 4 feet within the required front setback violates YMC 15.05.020(G). A residential side or rear fence over 6 feet (or over 8 feet where the rear abuts a designated arterial) violates Title 15. Any fence over 2.5 feet within a YMC 15.05.040 clear view triangle violates the sight-distance rule. A combined fence-plus-retaining-wall structure taller than 10 feet from the lower elevation is non-compliant. Enforcement is by the City of Yakima Planning Division and Codes Division.
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