In the City of Yakima, fences over 7 feet in height require a building permit issued by the Codes Division, per the Washington State Building Code adopted in YMC 11.04 (which incorporates the IBC under WAC 51-50). Fences 7 feet or shorter are exempt from a building permit but must still comply with YMC 15.05.020(G) location, height, and clear-view-triangle standards, and YMC 15.05.020(G) also requires that all fences over 6 feet meet the provisions of the International Building Code. Fences within a public right-of-way require a right-of-way use license with annual fees and a certificate of insurance filed with City Codes.
Per the City of Yakima Planning Division FAQ, 'A building permit is also required for the fence if it is over 7 feet in height,' consistent with WAC 51-50 (Washington adoption of the IBC) and IBC Section 105.2 building-permit exemption thresholds. YMC Chapter 11.04 (Building Code) adopts the Washington State Building Code, including the International Building Code, as published by the International Code Council and adopted by the Washington State Building Code Council under Chapter 51-50 WAC. YMC 15.05.020(G) states: 'All fences over six feet in height shall meet the provisions of the International Building Code,' meaning a fence over 6 feet must satisfy IBC structural/wind-load provisions even when a building permit is not separately required. Fences in the public right-of-way require a separate right-of-way use license through City Codes; per the Yakima Planning FAQ, this 'requires annual fees and a certificate of insurance to be filed with City Codes each year.' Property owners are reminded that fences 'must be on or behind the property line' (Yakima Planning FAQ). The Codes Division is at 129 N 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901; phone (509) 575-6126. Following WA RCW 19.27 (State Building Code Act), Yakima cannot adopt amendments to the State Building Code that weaken statewide standards.
Constructing a fence over 7 feet without a City of Yakima building permit violates YMC 11.04 and the adopted Washington State Building Code (WAC 51-50). A fence over 6 feet that does not meet IBC structural standards violates YMC 15.05.020(G). Erecting a fence in a public right-of-way without a right-of-way use license and the required annual fees and certificate of insurance violates the Yakima Codes Division rules and can trigger removal at the owner's expense.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Yakima, WA
Yakima Municipal Code does not contain a specific provision allowing or prohibiting artificial turf on private residential property. Commercial sitescreening...
Yakima, WA
Yakima Municipal Code does not require or restrict native-plant landscaping on private residential property. Commercial sitescreening under YMC Chapter 15.07...
Yakima, WA
YMC 5.57.040 sets buffers and zone restrictions. Mobile or street vendors may not operate in any vehicle travel lane (YMC 5.57.040(2)) and may not sell from ...
Yakima, WA
YMC Chapter 5.57 (Mobile Food Vendors) — adopted by Ord. 2015-029 and amended by Ord. 2020-006 — requires every mobile or street vendor to obtain a city busi...
Yakima, WA
Federal law preempts local regulation of the navigable airspace over Yakima. Recreational flyers operate under 49 U.S.C. § 44809 (visual line of sight, ≤ 400...
Yakima, WA
Yakima does not require a city permit or business license for an occasional residential garage sale of personal household items. Mobile/street vendor licensi...
See how Yakima's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.