How tall can my fence be in Burien, WA?

Burien, 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 Burien, WA fence permit cost?

We have Burien, WA's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it.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.

Burien, WA fence permit site plan

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

If Burien'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 Burien, 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 Burien, WA permit form — pending. Until then you get the universal plot plan + a checklist of what to handwrite on the city's form.
✓ Burien, WA ordinance check — height limits, setbacks, and neighbor-consent rules specific to Burien, WA.

Burien, WA fence rules

No building permit is needed for a fence 6' or less in height. A permit is required in a special flood hazard area or where critical area review or a zoning-code exemption applies.
A fence 6' or less may stand anywhere on the lot, including on the property line in a front, street, or interior setback, as long as sight distance requirements are met.
A fence over 6' must meet the street and interior setbacks of the property's zoning district, so it cannot be built on the property line.
Inside a sight distance triangle, nothing — fence, berm, vegetation, parking, or signs — may sit between 42 inches and 8' above existing street grade. The triangle is measured 15' along both front property lines at a street intersection, or 15' along the front property line and 15' along each driveway edge at a site access point.
Barbed-wire and razor-wire fences are banned in any RS or RM residential zone, except where specifically required for security of a nonresidential use.
A fence on top of a rockery, retaining wall, or berm is measured from the top of the fence to the ground on the low side. Where a protective fence sits on a rockery inside a required setback, any portion above 6' must be open-work.

Do you need a permit? Usually no. Burien's permit fact sheet lists fences 6 feet or less in height among the work exempt from a permit under BMC 15.05.245. The exemption does not apply when the work is in a special flood hazard area or anywhere else in the city requiring critical area review by the zoning code. (source)

Source: https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Burien/html/Burien19/Burien1917.html#19.17.290

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FAQ

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Burien, WA?: Usually no. Burien's permit fact sheet lists fences 6 feet or less in height among the work exempt from a permit under BMC 15.05.245. The exemption does not apply when the work is in a special flood hazard area or anywhere else in the city requiring critical area review by the zoning code.
How tall can my fence be in Burien, WA?: Burien, 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 Burien, WA fence permit cost?: We have Burien, 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 Burien 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 Burien, WA building department before submitting.

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Burien, WA fence permit site plan

What you'll get for Burien, WA

Burien, WA fence rules

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