What's Required in Seattle
- No building permit for a fence not over 8 ft high with no masonry or concrete elements above 6 ft, unless it is in a flood-prone area.
- Taller fences and masonry over 6 ft need a construction permit, usually STFI, with an application, a site plan per Tip 103, and section and detail drawings.
- Zoning caps fences in NR and multifamily zones at 6 ft plus 2 ft of arbor or trellis, 4 ft in a front or street-side setback, and 8 ft on slopes averaging 6 ft between posts.
- A fence above a retaining wall that raises grade is limited to 9 ft 6 in combined; retaining walls over 4 ft need their own permit.
- Permitted fences are priced on value: Table D-1 index plus 40 percent STFI plan review, 5 percent technology fee and the $6.50 state surcharge.
- Fence drawings rarely need an architect's or engineer's stamp.
- Fences near wetlands, steep slopes or other environmentally critical areas follow the ECA code and may need a pre-application site visit.
Do You Need a Permit to Build a Fence in Seattle?
Almost never. Seattle Residential Code R105.2 item 4 exempts fences not over 8 ft high that do not have masonry or concrete elements above 6 ft, and SDCI's Fences page repeats the rule, adding one exception: a fence in a flood-prone area needs a construction permit regardless of height. A taller fence, or a masonry wall over 6 ft, needs a construction permit, and SDCI says most of those qualify for the quicker subject-to-field-inspection (STFI) permit, priced on the value of the work. The catch is zoning: the land use code limits a fence in Neighborhood Residential and multifamily zones to 6 ft (plus 2 ft of arbor or trellis) and to 4 ft in a front or street-side setback, so a legal 8 ft fence in a back yard is really a 6 ft fence with 2 ft of open architectural features on top, or a sloped-site fence that averages 6 ft between posts.
Seattle Fence Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Wood, vinyl or metal fence 8 ft or lower, no masonry or concrete above 6 ft, not in a flood-prone area | None | SRC R105.2 item 4; SDCI Fences page |
| Fence taller than 8 ft | STFI construction permit, value-based, with site plan and section drawings | SDCI Fences page |
| Masonry or concrete fence or wall with elements above 6 ft | Construction permit (STFI for most) | SRC R105.2 item 4 |
| Any fence in a flood-prone area | Construction permit | SDCI Fences page |
| Fence over 4 ft in a front or street-side setback | Not allowed by zoning, permit or not | SDCI Fences page (SMC 23.44) |
| Fence over 6 ft in an NR or multifamily zone (up to 8 ft with 2 ft of arbor or trellis; 8 ft on a slope if the average between posts is 6 ft) | Zoning height limit applies even to exempt fences | SDCI Fences page |
| Fence on top of a retaining wall that raises your grade | Combined wall plus fence limited to 9 ft 6 in | SDCI Fences page |
How Much Does a Fence Permit Cost in Seattle?
For the typical 6 ft cedar fence: $0, because no permit exists to pay for. When a fence does need a permit, SDCI has no flat fence fee; the STFI construction permit is priced from Table D-1 of the 2026 Fee Subtitle on the value of the work (labor and materials). Permit fee is 100 percent of the Development Fee Index and STFI plan review is 40 percent (minimum $116.75), then a 5 percent technology fee and the $6.50 state surcharge are added. Worked examples: a $6,000 fence has a DFI of $325 + 50 x $1.60 = $405; permit $405 + plan review $162 = $567, plus $28.35 technology fee and $6.50 = $601.85. A $10,000 fence: DFI $469, plan review $187.60, total $695.93. The smallest possible value-based permit (a job under $1,000) is still $325 + $130 + fees = about $484. Fees are due when the permit is issued, and SDCI raised construction permit fees 18 percent for 2026.
What SDCI Wants in the Application
For a permitted fence you submit an application and scaled plans: a site plan meeting Tip 103 plus section and detail drawings showing posts, footings and height above grade. Fence drawings rarely need an architect's or engineer's stamp. Start with a Building & Land Use Pre-Application in the Seattle Services Portal, upload the drawings, and if the fence qualifies for STFI the screening takes a few days before the permit and stamped plans are issued electronically. The permit stays valid for 18 months, and the inspector checks the fence against the code in the field rather than through a full plan review.
Zoning Rules That Apply to Every Fence
The permit exemption is a building code exemption; the land use code still governs height and placement. SDCI's Fences page sets the limits: 6 ft in Neighborhood Residential and multifamily zones with an additional 2 ft of architectural features such as arbors or trellises, 4 ft within a front or street-side setback, 8 ft on a sloping site if the average height between posts is 6 ft, and 9 ft 6 in combined for a fence above a retaining wall that raises your grade. Fences and gates generally may not block exits from commercial or multifamily buildings to a street or alley, and fences near wetlands or steep slopes fall under the Environmentally Critical Areas code. The Neighborhood Residential chapter (SMC 23.44) was rewritten in 2025 for middle housing, so use SDCI's free land use coaching to confirm the current text for corner lots.
How to Get a Fence Permit in Seattle
Measure the height and check the material
At or under 8 ft with no masonry above 6 ft and outside a flood-prone area means no building permit; go straight to the zoning check.
Confirm the zoning limits for the fence line
Front and street-side setbacks allow only 4 ft; elsewhere in NR and multifamily zones 6 ft plus 2 ft of open arbor. Use SDCI's GIS map and free land use coaching for corner lots and ECA parcels.
Prepare drawings if a permit is needed
Draw a site plan to Tip 103 standards plus a section showing posts, footings and total height; no professional stamp is normally required.
Apply in the Seattle Services Portal
Start a Building and Land Use Pre-Application, upload the plans, answer yes to the subject-to-field-inspection question, and pay the value-based fee when SDCI issues the permit after screening.
Build and schedule the field inspection
Keep the printed permit and stamped plans on site and request the inspection online or by phone; the inspector verifies code compliance in the field.