Tacoma, WA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Barbed/razor wire
- prohibited (residential)
- Electrified fences
- prohibited (residential)
- Chain link
- banned at street-facing front yard
- Code section
- TMC § 13.06.090K.5.a
Summary
Barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing are banned on Tacoma residential properties, and chain link is restricted at street-facing yards and required screening.
Barbed or razor wire. The use of barbed or razor wire is prohibited.
(2) Electrified fences are prohibited.
(3) Chain link. Chain link is permitted; except
(a) In the case of a residential development, chain link or similar wire fencing is prohibited between the front of a building and a public street, except for wetland preservation and recreation uses; and
(b) Chain link, with or without slats, is prohibited for required screening.
b. Fence and wall height.
(1) In Urban Residential (UR) Districts, the maximum height of free-standing walls, fences, or hedges between any public street and building are allowed up to 4 feet in height above sidewalk grade. Exceptions for decorative fences are as follows:
(a) Up to 5 feet in height provided the fence or wall is semi-transparent or includes decorative features, and features a planting strip at least 1 foot wide.
(b) Up to 7 feet in height provided the fence or wall is at least 50% transparent above 5 feet, and features a planting strip at least 2 feet wide planted with shrubs or groundcover.
(2)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).
Full Breakdown
Tacoma's residential fence standards prohibit barbed or razor wire outright, and prohibit electrified fences entirely. Chain link fencing is generally permitted, but not between the front of a residential building and the public street, except for wetland preservation or recreation uses, and chain link, slatted or not, cannot be used to meet any required screening. Commercial and mixed-use districts are treated differently: barbed or razor wire is allowed there as long as it isn't visible from a public street or an adjacent residential use, so the flat prohibition is specific to residential zoning.
Violations & Fines
Enforced through Tacoma's land use code compliance process; prohibited materials found on residential fencing, barbed wire, razor wire, electrified fencing, or street-facing chain link, must be removed or replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a chain link fence in front of my Tacoma house?
Is barbed wire allowed on a Tacoma home fence?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
Compare Tacoma to another location·View the Washington fence regulations overview
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Material Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle material restrictions.