Olympia, WA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed or razor wire
- Barred within 10 feet of a street, alley or public place
- Barbed wire exception
- Government or utility property where security is mandated by law
- Electric fence
- Unlawful except farm fencing and outdoor storage security
- Zones allowing electric security fence
- Auto Services, Industrial, Light Industrial
- Energizer limit
- Storage battery not to exceed 12 volts DC
- Governing section
- OMC 18.40.060(C)(9) and (C)(10)
Summary
In the City of Olympia, Washington, a barbed or razor wire fence is barred within 10 feet of a street, alley or other public place, except for government-owned or privately owned utility property where security is mandated by law. Electric fences are unlawful except farm fencing and permitted electric security fences around outdoor storage areas in specific zones.
9. Barbed and/or razor wire fences. No person or persons being the owner of or agent for or in possession and control of any property within the city limits shall construct or permit to exist any fence around or in front of such premises, consisting wholly or partially of barbed and/or razor wire, except to provide security at a government-owned property or privately owned utility where security for the property is mandated by law; provided that the provisions of this section shall only extend to fences that are within 10 feet of a street or alley or other public place within the City. 10. Electric fences. It is unlawful to install or maintain any electric fence within the city limits except as follows: a. For the purposes of protecting farms or agricultural animals using low-voltage, solar fences installed atop a six-foot non-electric fence; or b. For securing an outdoor storage area, subject to the provisions below.
Full Breakdown
OMC 18.40.060(C)(9) bars any owner, agent or person in possession and control of property within the City of Olympia from constructing or permitting a fence around or in front of the premises consisting wholly or partially of barbed and/or razor wire. The exception covers security at a government-owned property or privately owned utility where security for the property is mandated by law. The ban reaches only fences within 10 feet of a street or alley or other public place within the City.
Subsection (C)(10) makes it unlawful to install or maintain any electric fence within the city limits, with two exceptions. One protects farms or agricultural animals using low-voltage, solar fences installed atop a six-foot non-electric fence. The other secures an outdoor storage area, which includes automobile and recreational vehicle repair and service, equipment storage, lumber yards, fleet storage and landscape supplies.
Electric security fences are permitted in the Auto Services (AS), Industrial (I) and Light Industrial (LI) districts. In General Commercial (GC), Downtown Business (DB) and High Density Corridor 1 through 4 (HDC-1 to HDC-4), the Director decides case by case, and only after finding an increase in theft and vandalism and that the responsible person has taken reasonable measures that have not been effective.
The technical rules are specific. The charge must be noncontinuous and controllers must be approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. The energizer must be a storage battery not to exceed 12 volts DC, charged primarily by a solar panel. The fence must sit inside a non-electric perimeter fence or wall not less than five feet high and no more than eight inches away, and cannot exceed the higher of eight feet or two feet higher than the perimeter fence. Warning signs must read "Warning – Electric Fence" at intervals less than 30 feet.
Violations & Fines
A barbed wire or electric fence outside these rules is a Title 18 violation, and violations carry the penalties in OMC 18.73.010. A knowing violation is a misdemeanor with a fine not to exceed $1,000, imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both, and each day is a separate offense. A concurrent civil infraction costs Class 3 ($50) for a first offense, Class 2 ($125) for a second and Class 1 ($250) for a third.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put barbed wire on a fence in Olympia?
Are electric fences allowed for pets or livestock?
Which zones allow an electric security fence?
What warning sign does an electric security fence need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Olympia
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