Fence Permit in Pierce County, Washington
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a fence over 6 feet in height in unincorporated Pierce County
Issued byPierce County Planning and Public Works
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
In unincorporated Pierce County a fence 6 feet or less in height, measured from grade, does not require a building permit. Fences taller than 6 feet require a building permit applied for through the PALS Online permit portal. This is a local departure from Washington's unamended statewide default of 7 feet.
Typical threshold: Fences 6 feet or less in height, measured from grade, are exempt; taller fences require a building permit.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before building a fence over 6 feet in height in unincorporated Pierce County
What a fence permit costs in Pierce County
How Pierce County compares in Washington
Across the Washington jurisdictions we have verified, the same threshold runs from 6 to 8, so a project that is exempt here may still need a permit one county over.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | It depends | fences over 8 feet in height require a building permit; fences 8 feet or under do not require a permit |
| Clark County | It depends | Fences seven feet or less in height do not require a permit; fences over 7 feet in height require a Fence/Retaining Wall (FRT) permit. |
| King County | It depends | fences 6 feet or less do not require a building permit in unincorporated King County; fences over 6 feet require a permit |
| Pierce Countythis page | It depends | Fences 6 feet or less in height, measured from grade, are exempt; taller fences require a building permit. |
| Seattle | It depends | fences under 8 feet with no masonry or concrete elements exceeding 6 feet do not require a permit |
| Snohomish County | It depends | fences 8 feet or less in height exempt, provided they have no masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet (wire strands atop an 8-foot fence are excluded from the height measurement); taller fences, or fences with masonry/concrete above 6 feet, require a permit |
| Tacoma | It depends | fences 7 feet or under in height do not require a building permit; fences over 7 feet require a permit |
Closest fence permit thresholds outside Washington
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Pierce County's 6 feet.
- Clark County, Nevada, fences over 6 feet in height require a building permit; all fences require a Fence/Wall Permit (Form BPA-005) regardless of height
- Lake County, Florida, Masonry or concrete fences 4 feet or less in height, and fences of any other material 6 feet or less in height, are exempt from a building permit under the county's Chapter 6 building-code amendment
- Los Angeles County, California, height of a fence or freestanding block wall measured from the lowest adjacent grade; a masonry or concrete fence must also be set back from a public way at least a distance equal to its height to stay exempt
- Orange County, California, Fences and freestanding walls over six feet in height require a building permit; fences not over six feet are exempt unless a permit was required as a condition of project approval
How to apply in Pierce County
In Pierce County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own.
What most fence permit applications include:
- For Pierce County, a fence 7 feet or under is exempt from the model code's building permit, the same threshold the IRC uses for other small projects (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- That exemption only removes the building-code permit. It does not authorize skipping a jurisdiction's own zoning approval, which is why an exempt fence can still need its own land-use or zoning permit rather than a building permit (IRC 2021 R105.2).
- Whatever your jurisdiction calls that approval, the application centers on a basic site plan: a drawing of the property showing the fence's location, height, and material, and how it relates to the property lines (common local zoning practice).
- For Pierce County, the same plan is checked against required setbacks and, on corner lots or near intersections, a sight-triangle rule that caps fence height so it does not block sightlines for drivers (common local zoning practice).
- For Pierce County, a fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is handled as life-safety work rather than the light zoning process, and at least one state's adopted residential code requires a building permit for barrier fences regardless of the general fence exemption (Oregon Residential Specialty Code 2021, R101.2.2).
General submittal guidance from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R105.2. Source. Pierce County Planning and Public Works sets the exact checklist for Pierce County.
Where to apply in Pierce County:
Pierce County Planning and Public Works
- 2401 S 35th St, Tacoma, WA 98409
- Phone: (253) 798-3739
- Email: PCPermits@PierceCountyWa.gov
Fence Permit in Pierce County compared with nearby Washington localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Washington schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County | It depends | Fences 6 feet or less in height, measured from grade, are exempt; taller fences require a building permit. | Building permit fee follows PCC Table 17C.10-1-B (valuation based): $69.00 for... | |
| Bellevue | It depends | fences over 8 feet in height require a building permit; fences 8 feet or under do not require a permit | No separate fence line item | |
| Clark County | It depends | Fences seven feet or less in height do not require a permit; fences over 7 feet in height require a Fence/Retaining Wall (FRT) permit. | Fees are established by county ordinance and calculated automatically during the... | |
| King County | It depends | fences 6 feet or less do not require a building permit in unincorporated King County; fences over 6 feet require a permit | Most permit fees increased approximately 14% on January 1 2026 plus a $126 application... | |
| Seattle | It depends | fences under 8 feet with no masonry or concrete elements exceeding 6 feet do not require a permit | Fences 8 feet or less with no masonry or concrete elements over 6 feet need no permit... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Pierce County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
- In Pierce County: inspection duty attaches only to work for which a permit is required, so a fence that qualified for the permit exemption carries no inspection obligation under the model code (IRC 2021 R109.1).
- In Pierce County: where a fence permit was issued, the process skips the staged foundation, frame, and rough-in inspections used for buildings and goes straight to one final inspection once the fence is finished (IRC 2021 R109.1.6).
- In Pierce County: that single check is typically a zoning compliance inspection rather than a structural review, confirming the fence matches the approved height and site plan (common local practice).
- A fence built as a swimming-pool barrier breaks that light-touch pattern in Pierce County: it is separately inspected for barrier compliance, commonly required before the pool itself can be signed off (ISPSC 305; local pool-barrier inspection programs).
- In Pierce County: that barrier inspection checks dimensional rules from the swimming pool and spa code rather than ordinary fence rules, including the minimum 48 inch barrier height and limits on openings and gaps a young child could pass through (ISPSC 305).
- Gate hardware is inspected too in Pierce County: a self-closing, self-latching gate is part of the barrier requirement, since an unlatched gate defeats the fence's purpose as a barrier (ISPSC 305).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Pierce County permit portal or by phone at (253) 798-3739.
Inspection sequence from International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 edition, Section R109, and ISPSC 2021 Section 305 (barriers). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Fence Permit checklist for Pierce County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: Fences 6 feet or less in height, measured from grade, are exempt; taller fences require a building permit. Usually needed: Before building a fence over 6 feet in height in unincorporated Pierce County.
- Budget the fee. Building permit fee follows PCC Table 17C.10-1-B (valuation based): $69.00 for construction valued at $500 or less, plus $2.00 for each additional $100 or fraction up to $2,000, plus a plan review fee equal to 65 percent of the building permit fee (PCC Table 17C.10-1-C). Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Pierce County, most residential fences fall under the model code's 7-foot building-permit exemption, so the real approval step is a lightweight zoning or land-use permit built around a simple site plan showing the fence's location, height, and material, checked against setbacks and any corner-lot sight-triangle rule. A fence that will serve as a required swimming-pool barrier is the exception, since barrier fences carry life-safety requirements of their own. Start at the Pierce County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Pierce County Planning and Public Works. Phone: (253) 798-3739. Address: 2401 S 35th St, Tacoma, WA 98409.
- Plan for inspections. In Pierce County, inspection follows the permit: a fence that never needed one gets no inspection at all under the model code, and a permitted fence typically gets a single final check rather than the staged inspections used for a house. The exception is a fence serving as a swimming-pool barrier, which gets its own dedicated barrier inspection covering height, gaps, and gate hardware.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fence permit in Pierce County?
- In unincorporated Pierce County a fence 6 feet or less in height, measured from grade, does not require a building permit. Fences taller than 6 feet require a building permit applied for through the PALS Online permit portal. This is a local departure from Washington's unamended statewide default of 7 feet. Fences 6 feet or less in height, measured from grade, are exempt; taller fences require a building permit. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a fence permit cost in Pierce County?
- Building permit fee follows PCC Table 17C.10-1-B (valuation based): $69.00 for construction valued at $500 or less, plus $2.00 for each additional $100 or fraction up to $2,000, plus a plan review fee equal to 65 percent of the building permit fee (PCC Table 17C.10-1-C). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a fence permit in Pierce County?
- You can apply through the Pierce County permit portal or contact the Pierce County Planning and Public Works directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a fence permit themselves in Pierce County?
- Under Washington law (RCW 18.27.090(11), (12); RCW 19.28.261(1); RCW 18.106.150(1)): Washington lets homeowners do their own construction work, including the licensed trades, on property they own. RCW 18.27.090(12) exempts any person working on his or her own property from contractor registration, but the exemption does not apply if you do contractor type work for the purpose of selling, demolishing, or leasing the property, and the separate owner exemption in RCW 18.27.090(11) is lost if you sell or lease improved property owned less than 12 months. For electrical work, RCW 19.28.261 lets you wire your own residence, farm, or place of business without an electrician license, unless the work is on construction of a new building intended for rent, sale, or lease, or on property offered for sale within 12 months after you obtained it. RCW 18.106.150(1) gives the same kind of exemption for plumbing work at your own residence, farm, or place of business. These exemptions waive the license, not the permit: an owner doing electrical work still buys an L&I electrical work permit and passes inspection (WAC 296-46B-901), and building and plumbing permits still come from your local building department. Confirm how Pierce County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Pierce County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | Decks not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, and not over any story or basement below, are exempt; Pierce County code sets no separate floor area cap for decks; taller decks, or decks over a story or basement, require a building permit. | Building permit fee follows PCC Table 17C.10-1-B (valuation based): $69.00 for... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No county fee |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Issue each mechanical permit fee $58.00, plus unit fees per equipment type (for example... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | At-grade patios, treated the same as exempt sidewalks and driveways, are exempt if not more than 30 inches above grade at any point and not over any story or basement below; an attached, roofed patio cover requires a building permit regardless of size. | Attached patio covers use the same valuation based building permit fee as other building... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Issue each plumbing permit fee $58.00, plus unit fees per fixture (for example $8.00 per... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a single family residence (Group R-3 occupancy) are exempt if less than 24 inches deep, with no separate gallon volume cap; in-ground pools and pools 24 inches deep or deeper require a building permit. Self-contained spas and hot tubs installed entirely above ground and not connected to the potable water system or a septic or sewer drain are separately exempt regardless of depth. | Where a permit is required: in-ground pool permit $230.00 |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Re-roofing of a Group R, Division 3 one or two family dwelling, or a Group U private garage, carport, or accessory structure, with a roof slope greater than 2:12, is exempt if the total load of all roof coverings does not exceed 7.5 lbs per sq ft; the exemption does not apply to vegetated roofs or to replacement of roof sheathing. | Building permit fee follows PCC Table 17C.10-1-B (valuation based): $69.00 for... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | One-story detached accessory structure used as an unheated tool or storage shed, playhouse, or similar use is exempt if its floor area is 200 sq ft or less and it is at least 3 feet from a property line; larger or closer structures require a building permit. | Building permit fee follows PCC Table 17C.10-1-B (valuation based): $69.00 for... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential rooftop solar panel building permit base fee $173.00, plus $201.00 for... |
Fence Permit in other Washington localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Pierce County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this fence permit page for Pierce County was verified. 2 official sources: pierce.county.codes, piercecountywa.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Pierce County Planning and Public Works. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Fence Permit requirements across Washington localities
Washington rule changes