How tall can my fence be in Bothell, WA?

Bothell, WA does not set a single height cap — the limit depends on the yard, the zoning district, and how the fence is built. The fence rules above quote the ordinance.

How much does a Bothell, WA fence permit cost?

We have Bothell, WA's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.

What does a fence plot plan need to show?

Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.

Can I draw my plot plan myself?

Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Bothell, WA fence permit site plan

Plan your fence on a satellite map of your Bothell, WA property and get a permit-ready PDF in 2 minutes. Free, no sign-up.

If Bothell's form asks for a site plan and this page says plot plan, they are the same drawing for a fence application: a to-scale overhead view of your lot with the property lines, the existing structures and the proposed fence dimensioned on it. A surveyed site plan is the one genuinely different document, and only a licensed surveyor can seal one. What a fence permit site plan has to show.

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What you'll get for Bothell, WA

✓ Satellite site plan — top-down map of your property with the fence drawn on it, every side dimensioned.
✓ Fence elevation — side view showing height, panel count, and gates.
✓ Real lot lines — pulled from county GIS so your fence sits on the actual property boundary.
○ Filled Bothell, WA permit form — pending. Until then you get the universal plot plan + a checklist of what to handwrite on the city's form.
✓ Bothell, WA ordinance check — height limits, setbacks, and neighbor-consent rules specific to Bothell, WA.

Bothell, WA fence rules

No building permit is required for a fence 6' or less in nominal height.
Fences taller than 6' are allowed, but they must meet the front, side and rear yard setbacks of the underlying zoning district. Confirm those setbacks and any permit fee with the city.
A fence 6' or less may be built in any zone district and placed in any front, rear or side yard with no setback, provided no landscape buffer is required. Where Chapter 12.18 BMC requires a landscape buffer, the fence must sit behind it.
No fence or freestanding wall may be placed within 3' of a fire hydrant or obscure the view of one, and every fence must meet the sight distance requirements of the Bothell Standards.
Razor wire is prohibited except where military or police services install it at sensitive locations identified by the chief of police. Barbed wire is allowed only for animal husbandry or pasturing, and for security at locations identified by the chief of police.
Electric fences are allowed only in residential zones and only for raising or pasturing agricultural animals; they must be at least 6' from any fire hydrant and posted with permanent signs of at least 2 square feet every 50' stating the fence is electrified.

Do you need a permit? Usually no. Bothell's Permit Exemptions handout lists fences not over six feet high among the work exempt from a permit under BMC 20.02.095.B. The handout is explicit that an exemption is not authorization to do the work in violation of the code, so the setback, sight distance and fire hydrant rules above still apply. (source)

Source: https://bothell.municipal.codes/BMC/12.14.150

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FAQ

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Bothell, WA?: Usually no. Bothell's Permit Exemptions handout lists fences not over six feet high among the work exempt from a permit under BMC 20.02.095.B. The handout is explicit that an exemption is not authorization to do the work in violation of the code, so the setback, sight distance and fire hydrant rules above still apply.
How tall can my fence be in Bothell, WA?: Bothell, WA does not set a single height cap — the limit depends on the yard, the zoning district, and how the fence is built. The fence rules above quote the ordinance.
How much does a Bothell, WA fence permit cost?: We have Bothell, WA's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.
What does a fence plot plan need to show?: Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.
Can I draw my plot plan myself?: Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Not sure what Bothell means by “site plan”? See the nine things a plan reviewer checks — the same list whatever city you are applying in.

Do I need a survey?·Free template — which kind?·Do I need a permit?·Why permits get rejected

Fence Plotter is informational only. Always confirm specific requirements with the Bothell, WA building department before submitting.

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Bothell, WA fence permit site plan

What you'll get for Bothell, WA

Bothell, WA fence rules

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