Unincorporated Snohomish County exempts fences up to eight feet high from a building permit, as long as they have no masonry or concrete above six feet. Taller fences, or those with masonry above six feet, require a permit from Planning and Development Services.
SCC 30.50.103(1)(b) lists fence work exempt from a building permit: fences not over eight feet high that do not have masonry or concrete elements above six feet. Wire strands on top of an eight-foot fence are not counted in that measurement when permitted under Title 30, and the fence must still be set back in accordance with the code. Retaining walls up to four feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, are also permit-exempt unless they support a surcharge (SCC 30.50.103(1)(c)). Exempt status does not waive the setback, sight-triangle, or height standards elsewhere in Title 30.
Building or expanding a fence above the exempt threshold without the required permit is a code violation; PDS may issue a stop-work or correction notice and require permitting.
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