Pasco, WA Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

Pasco has reduced its permit requirements for smaller residential projects. Per the city's published guidance, fences under seven feet tall do not require a building permit, and retaining walls under four feet tall are exempt as well. These exemptions track the adopted International Building and Residential Codes (the IRC exempts fences not over 7 feet and retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge). Important: being permit-exempt does not mean rule-exempt. A permit-free fence must still comply with all zoning design standards in PMC 25.180.050, including the front-yard height cap of 3.5 feet (with see-through material allowed up to 5 feet), the 6-foot side/rear limit, the prohibited-materials list, and the intersection sight-distance triangle. Fences and walls must also respect setbacks and utility easements. When a fence does exceed seven feet, or a retaining wall exceeds four feet or supports a surcharge, a building permit is required and engineering may be needed. Because requirements and adopted code editions change, verify the current threshold and process with Pasco's Building Division or Community and Economic Development before you start.