Kennewick, WA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed materials
- Chain link, wood, masonry, ornamental iron
- Barbwire/electric wire
- RS district only, for animals/crops
- Post standard
- Steel or pressure-treated wood posts
- Wind rating
- 80 mph minimum windload
Summary
Kennewick limits residential fences to chain link, wood, masonry, ornamental iron, or equivalent synthetic materials, and reserves barbwire and electric-wire fencing for animal or crop use in the Residential Suburban district only.
(3)All fences in residential zones except Residential, Suburban shall be constructed of material commonly used in residential fence construction, such as chain link, wood slat, masonry walls, ornamental iron, wood pickets, and similar material. Fences of synthetic materials that have the functional equivalence of natural or traditional material may be substituted. The Planning Director may adopt rules and regulations to implement this subsection.(4)Fences in Residential Suburban districts shall comply with provisions of this section. Fences for the containment of animals or the protection of crops, made from wood, barbwire, and electric wire are permitted. The Planning Director may adopt rules and regulations to implement this subsection.(5)Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit or restrict fences appropriate for a permitted use within any district, such as fences for protecting swimming pools, confining animals, protecting agricultural crops and the like. (Ord. 5180 Sec. 1, 2007)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
KMC 18.27.040(3) requires fences in every residential zoning district except Residential, Suburban (RS) to be built from material commonly used in residential fence construction, chain link, wood slat, masonry walls, ornamental iron, wood pickets, and similar materials, or a synthetic substitute with the functional equivalence of those materials. Barbwire and electric wire are not on that list. KMC 18.27.040(4) instead permits barbwire and electric-wire fencing only in the RS district, and only for containing animals or protecting crops, not as ordinary yard fencing. All fences over 36 inches must use steel or pressure-treated wood posts rated to withstand an 80-mile-per-hour wind load.
Violations & Fines
Installing barbwire or electric-wire fencing outside the RS district, using materials not commonly accepted for residential fencing, or building a fence over 36 inches without code-compliant posts violates KMC 18.27.040 and can trigger removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a barbwire fence in Kennewick?
What materials are allowed for a residential fence in Kennewick?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
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