Sammamish, WA Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit-free height
- Up to 6 ft, SMC 16.20.200(2)(b)
- Over 6 ft
- Requires a building permit under SMC 16.20.195
- Critical areas
- No exemption within critical areas/shoreline setbacks
- Permit term
- 2 years, one 1-year extension available
Summary
Sammamish lets you build a fence up to six feet without a building permit. SMC 16.20.200(2)(b) exempts fences not over six feet from the City's permit process, but that exemption drops away for fences inside a critical area or shoreline setback, where a permit is required regardless of height.
Permit exemptions for activities outside the footprint of an existing legally established structure shall not apply within critical areas or within the standard shoreline setbacks. ... Permits shall not be required for the following: ... (2) Building. ... (b) Fences not over six feet (1,829 mm) high.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance O2026-598, and legislation passed through August 18, 2026).
Full Breakdown
200 exempts fences not over six feet (1,829 mm) high from the requirement to obtain a City building permit; this is one of the specific work-exempt-from-permit categories listed alongside sheds and retaining walls in subsection (2). 195, which obligates the owner or an authorized agent to apply to the permit center before construction, enlargement, alteration or repair. 200 states that permit exemptions for activities outside the footprint of an existing legally established structure do not apply within critical areas or within standard shoreline setbacks, and exemption from permitting is never authorization to violate any other Sammamish ordinance.
Given how much of Sammamish's Plateau terrain is mapped for wetlands, streams, steep slopes or landslide hazard under the City's critical areas code, a fence project near any of those features can require a permit even at a height well under six feet. 237 that applies to other building permits.
Violations & Fines
Installing a fence over six feet, or any fence inside a critical area or shoreline setback, without the required permit exposes the owner to a stop work order and special investigation fee under SMC 16.20.355, added on top of the standard permit fee. Continuing work after a stop work order is issued draws civil penalties under Chapter 23.100 SMC, and the order can be appealed to the City's hearing examiner under Chapter 23.110 SMC.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my fence be in Sammamish without a permit?
Does a six-foot fence ever need a permit anyway?
What happens if I build a fence over six feet without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sammamish
Compare Sammamish to another location·View the Washington fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle fence permit requirements.