Spokane Valley, WA Fence Regulations: Permit Requirements (2026)

Spokane Valley does not require a building permit for a standard residential fence. The city's official Fence Installation Guidelines, issued pursuant to SVMC 22.70.020, state plainly that "although there is no permit for a standard fence, there are guidelines required to be followed." In residential zoning districts, fences may be built up to 7 feet in side and rear yards (behind the required front-yard setback) without a permit. A permit, along with engineering, is required only when a residential fence exceeds 7 feet, and such fences may not exceed 8 feet in height. In nonresidential zoning districts, a fence over 8 feet requires a conditional use permit. Even where no permit is needed, the fence must comply with the height limits by yard (3 feet sight-obstructing or 4 feet non-sight-obstructing in the front yard), must be kept out of the clearview triangle at intersections and driveways under SVMC 22.70.030, and must not block fire-protection equipment. Special fence types have added rules: electric fences are limited to confining animals (residential) or enclosing outdoor storage (nonresidential), and barbed wire in residential zones is allowed only to confine animals on qualifying lots. The permit center for fence questions is the City of Spokane Valley Permit Center at 10210 E. Sprague Avenue (509-720-5240). Property owners are responsible for siting the fence on their own property and outside the public right-of-way.