Sammamish, WA Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

In Sammamish, most residential fences built within the standard height limits do not trigger a building permit. The threshold matters when a fence exceeds 6 feet. According to the City's Residential Fences handout (No. 220), requests for fences taller than the standard limit, up to a maximum of 8 feet and not exceeding 32 feet in length, are reviewed through a Type I Construction Permit application. That exception is only available when the over-height fence runs along a side or rear lot line shared with a separately owned property, and when the adjoining owners have signed a site plan and maintenance agreement that is recorded with King County Records before the permit is issued. Fences inside shoreline jurisdiction or critical-area buffers may face additional review under SMC Title 25 and the City's critical areas rules regardless of height. Permits are handled through the Sammamish Permit Center at 801 228th Ave NE. Because Sammamish is an incorporated city, permitting is administered by the City, not King County. Note that Washington's statewide building code (the International Residential Code) generally exempts fences not over 7 feet from a building permit, but a city like Sammamish can and does impose its own design and permit standards.