Fence Installation Permits in Bellevue

Local Rule

City of Bellevue Development Services Department; Bellevue City Code

Bellevue requires a building permit for any fence exceeding 8 feet in height, measured from finished grade at the exterior side of the fence; a berm built to raise a fence's effective height still counts toward that 8-foot limit. Fences up to 4 feet 6 inches may be located anywhere, including the front-yard setback; fences taller than that, up to 8 feet, may be located anywhere except within the required front-yard setback. Barbed wire is not allowed along a property boundary except atop a solid or chain-link fence at least 6 feet high, and electric fences are prohibited in residential districts except where additional barriers prevent small-animal or child access. All fences must meet sight-obstruction restrictions at street intersections under BCC 14.60.240 and 14.60.241.

Source · Verified September 2026

Bellevue Building Department

Hours and procedures can change — call ahead to confirm.

How This Compares to King County

Bellevue's own rule is shown above (No permit under 8 sqft). Here is the separate rule that applies at the county level, for context:

City of Seattle / King County

In King County (Seattle) you can build a fence up to 8 feet without a permit as long as no masonry or concrete section exceeds 6 feet; taller fences, or any in a flood-prone or critical area, need a construction permit. Zoning limits front-yard fences to 4 feet and solid side/rear fences to 6 feet (open designs allowed up to 8). Unincorporated King County caps no-permit fences at 6 feet. Washington's Good Neighbor Fence Act covers shared costs.

See the full county page

Nearby Cities with Verified Rules

Other cities near Bellevue with a confirmed fence installation rule:

FAQs

Building It Yourself? Here's What You'll Need

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