Seattle, WA Privacy & Surveillance: Privacy Screening (2026)

Fences — A fence is a free-standing wall used for privacy or protection; it may or may not be attached to a building. You don't need a permit if you're building a fence with a total height of 8 feet high or less that doesn't have masonry or concrete elements over 6 feet. You will need a construction permit if the fence will be located in a flood-prone area. If you're building a taller fence, you need a construction permit. [...] In neighborhood residential and multifamily zones, our zoning code limits your fence height to 6 feet, with an additional 2 feet of architectural features such as arbors or trellises. We limit the height of the fence to 4 feet when it is located in a front or street side setback. On a sloping site, your fence can be 8 feet high, if the average height between posts is 6 feet. If you want to build a fence on a bulkhead or retaining wall in a required yard, there are additional height limits. If your fence is placed above a retaining wall used to raise the grade of your property, the combined height of the retaining wall and fence is limited to nine feet and six inches (9'-6"). If the retaining wall lowers the grade of your property, the normal height limitations apply to the fence. In most cases, fences and gates cannot restrict access to a street or alley from a commercial or multifamily building's exits.