Everett, WA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Wall 6 ft. or less
- normal max fence height applies
- Wall over 6 ft.
- fence on top capped at 42 in.
- Berm-top fences
- capped as if no berm existed
Summary
Everett limits how tall a fence can be built on top of a retaining wall or berm: the normal fence-height max applies above walls 6 feet or under, but the fence is capped at 42 inches on taller walls.
E. Retaining Walls and Berms. Fences placed on top of berms shall be constructed so as not to exceed the maximum height allowed if the berm were not there. Fences placed upon rockeries or retaining walls shall be permitted to be constructed to the maximum allowable fence height above the rockery or retaining wall, provided the rockery or retaining wall does not exceed a height of six feet. Fences constructed on top of retaining walls which are greater than six feet in height shall not exceed a maximum fence height of forty-two inches.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4194-26, passed July 29, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Everett Municipal Code § 19.40.010(E) governs fences built on retaining walls and berms rather than at grade. A fence on a berm can't exceed the height it could reach without the berm. A fence on a rockery or retaining wall up to 6 feet tall may reach the normal maximum fence height for that setback above the wall. But once the retaining wall or rockery itself exceeds 6 feet, any fence built on top of it is capped at 42 inches, regardless of the zone's normal fence-height allowance. The section does not set a separate height limit or permit requirement for the retaining wall structure itself; wall construction runs through the state building code as adopted in EMC Title 16.
Violations & Fines
Fences exceeding these stacked-height limits are enforced as code violations under Chapter 1.20 EMC and can be ordered lowered or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my fence be on top of a retaining wall in Everett?
Does this section set a height limit for the retaining wall itself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Everett
Compare Everett to another location·View the Washington fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle retaining walls.