Bellingham's BMC 20.30.110 (Fences) is silent on a closed list of prohibited materials for general residential fences, focusing instead on height, location, and the vision clearance triangle. However, for duplex, triplex, fourplex, townhouse, and shared-court housing types governed by BMC 20.28.050 (general standards), 'all fences in the front and side street setbacks are limited to 42 inches in height and may be no more than 60 percent opaque' and 'chain link or cyclone fencing is not allowed in the front or side street setback.' Fences over 8 feet (or with masonry/concrete above 6 feet) must meet the 2021 IBC adopted under BMC 17.10 and WAC 51-50.
BMC 20.30.110 (Fences) does not enumerate a closed prohibited-material list for general residential fences and does not impose a 'finished side' rule. The City of Bellingham Permit Center publication 'Fences, Walls and Hedges' confirms that material is a permit-application item (an illustrative drawing of the fence including 'type of construction material' is required for administrative exception requests) rather than a categorical restriction. BMC 20.28.050 (General Standards) imposes material restrictions for the housing types governed by Chapter 20.28: 'All fences in the front and side street setbacks are limited to 42 inches in height and may be no more than 60 percent opaque,' and 'chain link or cyclone fencing is not allowed in the front or side street setback.' This means in those zones a chain-link or cyclone fence in the front or side-street setback is prohibited, and any fence in that setback must be no more than 60 percent opaque. BMC 17.10.020 (Construction Administrative Code) requires that fences over 8 feet, or with masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet, meet the 2021 IBC structural and wind-load provisions adopted under WAC 51-50. The City of Bellingham Permit Center at (360) 778-8300 reviews specific material questions.
In duplex/triplex/fourplex/townhouse/shared-court zones, a chain link or cyclone fence in the front or side-street setback violates BMC 20.28.050. A fence in those setbacks taller than 42 inches or more than 60 percent opaque violates BMC 20.28.050. A fence over 8 feet, or with masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet, that does not meet the 2021 IBC structural provisions adopted under WAC 51-50 violates BMC 17.10. A fence built above the BMC 20.30.110 yard height without an administrative exception is non-compliant.
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