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Port Townsend, WA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Banned attachments
Barbs, spikes, broken glass, sharp instruments
Barbed wire exception
Allowed only under 6 feet tall
Max fence height
8 feet outside setbacks
Enforcement
Nuisance abatement under Ch. 1.20 PTMC
Governing section
PTMC 17.68.040

Summary

Port Townsend bans fences with barbs, spikes, broken glass or other sharp attachments citywide, but allows barbed wire on fences under six feet tall per PTMC 17.68.040(A).

A. Any fence, wall, or other partially or totally sight-obscuring installations or features that have attached to it any barb, spike, broken glass or other pointed or sharp instrument. This prohibition shall not be construed to limit the placement of barbed wire fences less than six feet in height.

B. Any fence or wall in the rights-of-way; see exemptions in PTMC 17.68.030(A). (Ord. 3042 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 2571 § 2, 1997).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).

Full Breakdown

PTMC 17.68.040(A) prohibits any fence, wall, or sight-obscuring installation with an attached barb, spike, broken glass, or other pointed or sharp instrument anywhere in the city. The code carves out one exception: barbed wire is allowed on fences under six feet in height. Fences also can't sit in the public right-of-way (17.68.040(B)). Overall fence heights are capped at eight feet, with graduated openness rules, solid fencing tops out at four feet, and any run between six and eight feet must be at least 90 percent open, though wire, mesh, or string is permitted there while sharp attachments are not (17.68.030(C)). Violations are enforced as nuisances under Chapter 1.20 PTMC.

Violations & Fines

A prohibited barbed, spiked, or glass-topped fence is a nuisance under Chapter 1.20 PTMC, subject to abatement plus civil or criminal penalties enforced by the planning and community development director.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put barbed wire on my fence in Port Townsend?
Only if the fence is under six feet tall. PTMC 17.68.040(A) bans barbs, spikes, or broken glass on any fence, but exempts barbed wire under that height threshold.
Does Port Townsend regulate electric fences?
The municipal code doesn't address electric fencing directly; the fence chapter (17.68 PTMC) regulates height, openness, and sharp attachments like barbs and broken glass, not electrification.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Port Townsend

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsHeight LimitsSome RestrictionsFence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsRetaining WallsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Wildfire ZonesSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Brush ClearanceSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Weed OrdinancesSome Restrictions

All Port Townsend rules

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