Fences

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Information Handout-Commercial (25 KB)

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Residential Code

Section 17C.110.230 Fences

1. Purpose.
   The fence standards promote the positive benefits of fences without negatively affecting the community or endangering public or vehicle safety. Fences can create a sense of privacy, protect children and pets, provide separation from busy streets, and enhance the appearance of property by providing attractive landscape materials. The negative effects of fences can include the creation of street walls that inhibit police and community surveillance, decrease the sense of community, hinder emergency access and the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles, and create an unattractive appearance.

2. Types of Fences.
   The standards apply to walls, fences, trellises, arbors and screens of all types whether open, solid, wood, metal, wire, masonry or other material.
    

3. Location.

   1. Front Lot Line.
      Fences up to forty-two inches high are allowed in required front lot line setbacks.

   2. Sides and Rear Lot Line.
      Fences up to six feet high are allowed in required sides or rear lot line setbacks. Except in an instance where a rear lot line joins the front lot line of another lot, the fence must be either:

      1. forty-two inches high or less; or

      2. six feet high or less, and erected on a diagonal connecting the fencing in the side lot line setback with the fencing in that part of the rear lot line setback adjoining the side lot line setback of the adjoining lot.

   3. Other.
      The height for fences that are not in required building setbacks is the same as the height limits of the zone for detached accessory structures in Table 17C.110-3.

   4. Alleys.
      Fences shall not obstruct the clear width required in SMC 17H.010.130(G).
       

4. Reference to Other Standards.
   Building permits are required by the building services department for all fences including the replacement of existing fences. A permit is not required to repair an existing fence.
    

5. Prohibited Fences.

   1. No person may erect or maintain a fence or barrier consisting of or containing barbed, Constantine or razor wire in the RSF, RTF, RMF or RHD zones. In the RA zone, up to three strands of barbed wire are allowed for agricultural, farming or animal uses.

   2. No person may construct or maintain a fence or barrier charged with electricity in the RSF, RTF, RMF or RHD zones. In the RA zone, the use is permitted for the containment of livestock only.

   3. A fence, wall or other structure shall not be placed within the public right-of-way without an approved covenant as provided in SMC 17G.010.160 and any such structure is subject to the height requirement for the adjoining setback.

   4. Fence Setbacks.

      1. Arterial Street.
         No fence may be closer than twelve feet to the curb of an arterial street.

      2. Local Access Street.
         No fence may be closer than the back of the sidewalk on a local access street. If there is no sidewalk, the fence shall be setback seven feet behind the face of the curb of a local access street.
          

6. Enclosures for Pools, Hot Tubs or Ponds.

   1. A person maintaining a swimming pool, hot tub, pond or other impoundment of water eighteen inches or more in depth and located on private property is required to construct and maintain an approved fence by which the pool or other water feature is enclosed and inaccessible by small children.

   2. The required pool enclosure must be at least four feet high and may be a fence, wall, building or other structure approved by the building services department.

   3. If the enclosure is a woven wire fence, it is required to be built to discourage climbing.

   4. No opening, except a door or gate may exceed four inches in any dimension.

   5. Any door or gate in the pool enclosure, except when part of the occupied dwelling unit, must have self-closing and self-locking equipment by which the door or gate is kept secure when not in use. A latch or lock release on the outside of the door or gate must be at least forty-eight inches above the ground.
       

7. Visibility at Intersections.

   1. A fence, wall, hedge or other improvement may not be erected or maintained at the corner of a lot so as to obstruct the view of travelers upon the streets.

   2. Subject to the authority of the traffic engineer to make adjustments and special requirements in particular cases, no fence exceeding a height of thirty inches above the curb may be inside the:

      1. right isosceles triangle having sides of fifty feet measured along the curb line of each intersecting residential street; or

      2. right triangle having a fifteen-foot side measured along the curb line of the residential street and a seventy-five foot side along the curb line of the intersecting arterial street, except that when the arterial street has a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour, the triangle has a side along such arterial of one hundred twenty-two feet; or

      3. right isosceles triangle having sides of seven feet measured along the right-of-way line of an alley and:

         1. the inside line of the sidewalk; or

         2. if there is no sidewalk, a line seven feet inside the curb line.

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Commercial Code

1. Purpose.
   The fence standards promote the positive benefits of fences without negatively impacting the community or endangering public or vehicle safety. Fences near streets are kept low in order to allow visibility into and out of the site and to ensure visibility for motorists. Fences in any required side or rear setback are limited in height so as to not conflict with the purpose for the setback.

2. Types of Fences.
   The standards apply to walls, fences, and screens of all types whether open, solid, wood, metal, wire, masonry or other material.
    

3. Location, Height, and Design.

   1. Street Setbacks.
      No fence or other structure is allowed within twelve feet from the back of the curb, consistent with the required sidewalk width of SMC 17C.120.230.

      1. Measured from Front Lot Line.
         Fences up to three and one-half feet high are allowed in a required street setback that is measured from a front lot line.

      2. Measured from a Side Lot Line.
         Fences up to six feet high are allowed in a required setback that is measured from a side lot line.

   2. Side and Rear Structure Setbacks.
      Fences up to six feet high are allowed in required side or rear setbacks except when the side or rear setback abuts a pedestrian connection. When the side or rear setback abuts a pedestrian connection, fences are limited to three and one-half feet in height.

   3. Not in Setbacks.
      The height for fences that are not in required setbacks is the same as the regular height limits of the zone.

   4. Sight-obscuring Fences and Walls.
      Sight-obscuring fences, walls and other structures over three and one-half feet high, and within fifteen feet of a street lot line are subject to SMC 17C.120.570, Treating Blank Walls – Building Design.
       

4. Prohibited Fences.

   1. No person may erect or maintain a fence or barrier consisting of or containing barbed, razor, concertina or similar wire except that in a CB or GC zone up to three strands of barbed wire may be placed atop a lawful fence exceeding six feet in height above grade.

   2. No person may maintain a fence or barrier charged with electricity.

   3. A fence, wall or other structure shall not be placed within a public right-of-way without an approved covenant as provided in SMC 17G.010.160 and any such structure is subject to the height requirement for the adjoining setback.

   4. No fence may be closer than twelve feet to the curb.
       

5. Visibility at Intersections.

   1. A fence, wall, hedge or other improvement may not be erected or maintained at the corner of a lot so as to obstruct the view of travelers upon the streets.

   2. Subject to the authority of the traffic engineer to make adjustments and special requirements in particular cases, no fence exceeding a height of thirty inches above the curb may be inside the:

      1. right isosceles triangle having sides of fifty feet measured along the curb line of each intersecting residential street; or

      2. right triangle having a fifteen-foot side measured along the curb line of the residential street and a seventy-five foot side along the curb line of the intersecting arterial street, except that when the arterial street has a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour, the triangle has a side along such arterial of one hundred twenty-two feet; or

      3. right isosceles triangle having sides of seven feet measured along the right-of-way line of an alley and:

         1. the inside line of the sidewalk, or

         2. if there is no sidewalk, a line seven feet inside the curb line.

Date Passed: Tuesday, May 31, 2005

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Industrial Code

1. Purpose.
   The fence standards promote the positive benefits of fences without adversely impacting the community or endangering public or vehicle safety. Fences near streets are kept low in order to allow visibility into and out of the site and to ensure visibility for motorists. Fences in any required side or rear setback are limited in height so as to not conflict with the purpose for the setback.

2. Type of Fences.
   The standards apply to walls, fences, and screens of all types whether open, solid, wood, metal, wire, masonry or other material.
    

3. Location, Height and Design.

   1. Street Setbacks.
      No fence or other structure is allowed within twelve feet from the back of the curb, consistent with the required sidewalk width of SMC 17C.130.230.

      1. Measured from Front Lot Line.
         Fences up to three and one-half feet high are allowed in a required street setback that is measured from a front lot line.

      2. Measured from a Side Lot Line.
         Fences up to six feet high are allowed in required setback that is measured from a side lot line.

      3. Fences shall not reduce the required setback width of SMC 17C.130.210.

   2. Side or Rear Structure Setbacks.
      Fences up to six feet high are allowed in required side or rear setbacks except when the side or rear setback abuts a pedestrian connection. When the side or rear setback abuts a pedestrian connection, fences are limited to three and one-half feet in height.

   3. Not in Setbacks.
      The height for fences that are not in required setbacks is the same as the regular height limits of the zone.

   4. Sight-obscuring Fences and Walls.
      Any required or nonrequired sight-obscuring fences, walls, and other structures over three and one-half feet high, and within fifteen feet of a street lot line shall be placed on the interior side of a L2 see-through buffer landscaping area at least five feet in depth (See chapter 17C.200 SMC, Landscaping and Screening).
       

4. Prohibited Fences.

   1. No person may erect or maintain a fence or barrier consisting of or containing barbed, razor, concertina or similar wire except that up to three strands of barbed wire may be placed atop a lawful fence exceeding six feet in height above grade.

   2. No person may maintain a fence or barrier charged with electricity.

   3. A fence, wall or other structure shall not be placed within a public right-of-way without an approved covenant as provided in SMC 11.02.0345(C) and any such structure is subject to the height requirement for the adjoining setback.

   4. No fence may be closer than twelve feet to the curb.
       

5. Visibility at Intersections.

   1. A fence, wall, hedge or other improvement may not be erected or maintained at the corner of a lot so as to obstruct the view of travelers upon the streets.

   2. Subject to the authority of the traffic engineer to make adjustments and special requirements in particular cases, no fence exceeding a height of thirty-six inches above the curb may be inside the:

      1. right isosceles triangle having sides of fifty feet measured along the curb line of each intersecting residential street; or

      2. right triangle having a fifteen-foot side measured along the curb line of the residential street and a seventy-five-foot side along the curb line of the intersecting arterial street, except that when the arterial street has a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour, the triangle has a side along such arterial of one hundred twenty-two feet; or

      3. right isosceles triangle having sides of seven feet measured along the right-of-way line of an alley, and:

         1. the inside line of the sidewalk, or

         2. if there is no sidewalk, a line seven feet inside the curb line.

Date Passed: Monday, November 7, 2005

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