Washington County Community Development Code §411 permits standard residential fencing materials — cedar, vinyl, composite, wrought iron — and prohibits barbed wire and razor wire in residential zones. Cedar dominates due to the wet Willamette Valley climate; chain-link is allowed but discouraged in front yards.
Washington County Community Development Code (CDC) Article IV §411 governs fencing for unincorporated residential zones (R-5, R-6, R-9, R-15, R-24, R-25+, AF-5, AF-10, AF-20). Permitted materials include wood (western red cedar is standard and widely stocked at Parr Lumber and area suppliers), vinyl/PVC, composite, wrought iron, and tubular steel. Chain-link is allowed in rear and side yards and is common on larger AF-5 parcels but is typically conditioned or prohibited in front yards of subdivision lots. Barbed wire and razor wire are prohibited in residential zones under §411 and the underlying zoning regulations; they remain allowed in EFU (Exclusive Farm Use) zones for livestock containment consistent with Oregon Right to Farm protections (ORS 30.930-30.947). Cities within the county add their own material lists: Beaverton Development Code 60.30, Hillsboro Community Development Code 12.40, Tigard Community Development Code 18.410, and Tualatin Development Code 73.400 all list approved fencing materials. Historic districts in Forest Grove and downtown Hillsboro require compatible materials. HOAs in Bethany, Oak Hills, and Sherwood's Brookman commonly specify cedar only.
Prohibited materials (barbed wire, razor wire in residential): code enforcement notice under CDC §201-10 with 30-day correction. Continued violation: $100-$500 per day. Removal may be ordered.
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See how Washington County's material restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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