Auburn, WA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed wire zones
- P-1, M-1, M-2 only, plus 1-acre pastures
- Barbed wire add-on cap
- 12 inches above an 84-inch fence
- Electric fence zones
- RC, R-1, C-2, M-1, M-2, L-F, I
- Electric fence power source
- 12V DC battery, solar-charged
- Electric fence height cap
- 10 feet, in listed commercial zones
- Warning sign interval
- Every 50 feet or less
Summary
Auburn bans barbed wire fencing outside the P-1, M-1 and M-2 zones, with a one-acre pasture exception, under ACC 18.31.020(G). Electric fences are confined to the RC, R-1, C-2, M-1, M-2, L-F and I zones under ACC 18.31.020(H) and must meet specific voltage, enclosure and signage rules.
G. Other than in the P-1, M-1, or M-2 zones, no fence may include the use of barbed wire, including concertina, razor, or similar wire; provided, that pasture areas a minimum of one acre in area may be fenced with barbed wire in any zone. Barbed wire may be attached to the top of, and in addition to, the height of a 84-inch fence in the above zones, provided it does not extend more than 12 inches in height. H. Electrically charged fences shall only be allowed within the RC, R-1, C-2, M-1, M-2, L-F, or I zones... d. Height. Electric fences shall not exceed 10 feet in height. e. Warning Signs. Electric fences shall be clearly identified with warning signs that read "Warning - Electric Fence" at intervals of 50 feet or less.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 7023, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020(G) prohibits barbed wire, including concertina and razor wire, in every Auburn zone except P-1, M-1 and M-2, with one carve-out: pasture areas of at least one acre may be fenced with barbed wire in any zone. Where barbed wire is allowed atop a standard fence in the P-1, M-1 or M-2 zones, it can be added on top of an 84-inch fence but cannot extend the fence more than 12 additional inches. 020(H). They are permitted only in the RC, R-1, C-2, M-1, M-2, L-F and I zones, and the rule expressly exempts underground or invisible pet-containment fences from all of it.
In the RC and R-1 zones, the electric charge must be noncontinuous, the controller must carry Underwriters Laboratories approval, and any electric fence abutting a public street needs warning signage. In the C-2, M-1, M-2, L-F and I zones, the standards get more technical: the energizer's power source is capped at a 12-volt DC storage battery, charged primarily by a solar panel (a trickle charger may supplement it), and the fence must be completely surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall at least 72 inches tall.
Electric fences in these zones are limited to outdoor storage areas, capped at 10 feet in height, and must display 'Warning, Electric Fence' signs at intervals no greater than 50 feet, carrying ISO-style electric hazard symbols. 30 ACC.
Violations & Fines
Installing barbed wire outside the P-1, M-1, M-2 zones or the one-acre pasture exception, or running an electric fence outside the permitted zones or without the required enclosure, voltage limits and warning signage, is a code violation; the city's code enforcement division can order removal or retrofit to comply, and noncompliant electric fences risk disconnection until they meet the UL, IEC and signage requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put barbed wire on my fence in Auburn?
Are electric fences legal in residential Auburn?
What are the rules for electric fences around commercial storage in Auburn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
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