How tall can my fence be in Mercer Island, WA?

Up to 6' in the rear yard, 3'6" in front of the building line.

How much does a Mercer Island, WA fence permit cost?

We have Mercer Island, WA's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it.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

Mercer Island, WA fence permit site plan

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

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

Mercer Island, WA fence rules

Max height (rear yard): 6'
Max height (front of building line): 3'6"

No building permit is required for a fence not over 6' high, provided it complies with all land use regulations and street standards.
Front-yard fences and gates are limited to 42 inches, and that limit applies to any combination of retaining walls, rockeries and fences. In side and rear yards, a fence plus a retaining wall or rockery built for an authorized fill slope may not exceed 72 inches total.
A front-yard fence or gate may reach 72 inches only on a property line contiguous to Island Crest Way north of SE 53rd Place, or SE 40th Street between 92nd Avenue SE and 78th Avenue SE. It must be set back at least 5' from the street property line, screened by landscaping, and create no traffic, pedestrian or public safety hazard.
No fence may be located in any improved street. A fence in an unimproved public street requires city engineer approval and an encroachment agreement.
Electric fences, barbed wire fences, and similar fences that could pose a safety risk are not allowed.
A front-yard fence may include open latticework or a similar architectural feature up to 90 inches tall at a walkway entrance, provided at least 50 percent of that feature's surface area is evenly distributed open space.

Do you need a permit? Usually no. The city's own building-permit page lists fences not over 6 feet high among the MICC 17.14.010 Section 105.2 exemptions. Those exemptions are withdrawn in an area of flood hazard or a city land use critical area, and the page is explicit that being exempt from a permit is not being exempt from the codes. (source)

Source: https://library.municode.com/wa/mercer_island/codes/city_code?nodeId=CICOOR_TIT19UNLADECO_CH19.02RE_19.02.050FEREWARO

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FAQ

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Mercer Island, WA?: Usually no. The city's own building-permit page lists fences not over 6 feet high among the MICC 17.14.010 Section 105.2 exemptions. Those exemptions are withdrawn in an area of flood hazard or a city land use critical area, and the page is explicit that being exempt from a permit is not being exempt from the codes.
How tall can my fence be in Mercer Island, WA?: Up to 6' in the rear yard, 3'6" in front of the building line.
How much does a Mercer Island, WA fence permit cost?: We have Mercer Island, 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 Mercer Island 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 Mercer Island, WA building department before submitting.

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Plan a fence in Mercer Island →

Mercer Island, WA fence permit site plan

What you'll get for Mercer Island, WA

Mercer Island, WA fence rules

FAQ

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