Fence Permit in Snohomish County, Washington
By Mario Bailey Last checked 2026-07-06 · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources Confirmed on official pageIt depends
Quick answer
In unincorporated Snohomish County a fence 8 feet or less in height does not require a building permit, as long as it has no masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet (wire strands on top of an 8-foot fence are not counted toward the height). Fences taller than 8 feet, or with masonry/concrete construction above 6 feet, require a building permit applied for through the PDS Permit Portal. Fences must still meet property-line setback rules.
Typical threshold: 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.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
Want a pro to handle this permit? Request free help
Tell us where your project stands. Free to ask; no obligation.
Where we have a vetted local pro who handles permits in Snohomish County, we connect you; otherwise we reply with the exact steps and office links for your situation. PermitNotebook is not a government agency and does not file permits. This is a free referral request; we may earn a fee if you hire a pro we introduce. Partners never influence our permit data. Privacy policy.
When a permit is usually needed
Before building a fence over 8 feet tall, or one with masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet, in unincorporated Snohomish County
What fence permit costs in Snohomish County
Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washington State building permit surcharge; the permit fee itself scales with the county's valuation-based fee table.
How Snohomish 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 County | 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 Countythis page | 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 Snohomish County's 8 feet.
- Polk County, Florida, Solid fences over eight feet high and all masonry walls or fences with masonry pilasters require a permit; chain link fences of any height and stockade fences up to eight feet high are exempt.
- 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
- Gilbert, Arizona, Gilbert's amended IRC R105.2 exempts only fences not over 3 feet high; the Town's pool barrier policy statement says internal fences over 3 feet in height require building permits and inspections.
- Peoria, Arizona, Fences not over 3 feet high are exempt; fences over 3 feet and up to 7 feet require a building permit demonstrating zoning and site drainage compliance, and walls over 7 feet also require structural calculations.
How to apply in Snohomish 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:
- 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).
- 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).
- 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. Snohomish County Planning and Development Services sets the exact checklist for Snohomish County.
Where to apply in Snohomish County:
Snohomish County Planning and Development Services
- 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, M/S 604, Everett, WA 98201
- Phone: 425-388-3311
- Email: epermittech@snoco.org
Inspections and closing out your permit
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.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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: it is separately inspected for barrier compliance, commonly required before the pool itself can be signed off (ISPSC 305; local pool-barrier inspection programs).
- 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: 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 Snohomish County permit portal or by phone at 425-388-3311.
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 Snohomish County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: 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. Usually needed: Before building a fence over 8 feet tall, or one with masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet, in unincorporated Snohomish County.
- Budget the fee. Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washington State building permit surcharge; the permit fee itself scales with the county's valuation-based fee table. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. 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 Snohomish County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Snohomish County Planning and Development Services. Phone: 425-388-3311. Address: 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, M/S 604, Everett, WA 98201.
- Plan for inspections. 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 2026-07-06.
The checklist stays on this page either way. We may send occasional verified rule-change notes for your area; unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fence permit in Snohomish County?
- In unincorporated Snohomish County a fence 8 feet or less in height does not require a building permit, as long as it has no masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet (wire strands on top of an 8-foot fence are not counted toward the height). Fences taller than 8 feet, or with masonry/concrete construction above 6 feet, require a building permit applied for through the PDS Permit Portal. Fences must still meet property-line setback rules. 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. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a fence permit cost in Snohomish County?
- Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washington State building permit surcharge; the permit fee itself scales with the county's valuation-based fee table. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a fence permit in Snohomish County?
- You can apply through the Snohomish County permit portal or contact the Snohomish County Planning and Development Services directly. The links are listed on this page.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Snohomish 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 | uncovered decks, deck steps, and uncovered porches for residential buildings exempt if 30 inches or less above adjacent grade at any point, not over a basement or story below, and not part of a required accessible route; covered or taller decks require a permit | Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washin... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No county fee; |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Filed as a Mech/Plbg residential trade permit priced from the PDS valuation table start... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | open at-grade patios are treated as exempt sidewalks and driveways under SCC 30.50.103(1)(e) with no size limit; freestanding patio covers (roofed, not attached to another structure) are exempt only if 200 sq ft or less inside the UGA or 400 sq ft or less outside the UGA; larger or attached patio covers require a permit | Priced from the PDS valuation table starting at a $45 permit fee plus $29.25 plan check... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Filed as a Mech/Plbg residential trade permit priced from the PDS valuation table start... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated swimming pools regulated under the IRC (one- and two-family dwellings) exempt if less than 24 inches deep, with no gallon-volume cap; in-ground pools or pools 24 inches deep or more require a building permit | Priced from the PDS valuation table starting at a $45 permit fee plus $29.25 plan check... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | re-roof overlay or tear-off-and-replace of a residential roof exempt if limited to 2 total layers of roofing material, uses the same type of roofing material as the existing roof, and the roof sheathing is not removed or replaced; adding a layer beyond 2, changing material type, or replacing sheathing requires a permit | A like-for-like reroof limited to 2 layers with no sheathing removal needs no permit; |
| Shed Permit | It depends | one-story detached accessory structure not used for human habitation (tool/storage shed, playhouse) exempt if floor area is 200 sq ft or less and sidewalls 9 ft or less inside the Urban Growth Area (UGA), or 400 sq ft or less and sidewalls 11 ft or less outside the UGA; larger structures require a building permit | Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washin... |
| Solar Permit | It depends | ground-mounted residential solar PV systems never need a building or mechanical permit; roof-mounted residential PV on a detached single-family house is exempt from a building/mechanical permit only if total dead load is 3.5 lbs per sq ft or less (up to 4.5 lbs per sq ft for frameless panels on a 3:12 or steeper slope, or 5 lbs per sq ft for frameless panels on a 5:12 or steeper slope), panels are mounted 18 inches or less above the roof surface, and an electrical permit has already been issued; a separate electrical permit through WA L&I is always required regardless | Ground-mounted and qualifying roof-mounted residential solar PV need no county building... |
Fence Permit in other Washington localities
Official sources
Verified by a person against the sources above on 2026-07-06, not confirmed with Snohomish County Planning and Development Services. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: 2026-07-06Report an error on this page
Compare Fence Permit requirements across Washington localities
Washington rule changes
- Bellevue, WA sets a flat $290 re-roof permit fee (Ordinance 6879)
Ord. 6879 · 2026-07-25