The Short Answer
Washington state does not require a land survey before building a fence. No statute or regulation mandates one as a precondition for fence construction. But whether you need one is a different question from whether you are legally required to get one, and most property owners in Washington would benefit from having one done before a fence goes in.
Washington's Fence Law: RCW 16.60
Washington's fence statute, RCW 16.60, addresses fences and line fences between adjoining properties. The key provisions that affect property owners:
- Adjoining landowners share responsibility for the cost of building and maintaining a fence on the boundary line between their properties.
- Either owner can demand that the other contribute to fence construction or maintenance. If the neighbor refuses, the demanding owner can build the fence and seek recovery of half the cost through district court.
- The statute applies to line fences on the boundary. A fence built on your own property, set back from the line, is your responsibility alone and does not trigger the cost-sharing provisions.
Nothing in RCW 16.60 requires a survey before building. But the statute assumes you know where the boundary is, and that is the problem.
Why the Line Matters Before You Build
A fence is a permanent improvement. If you build it in the wrong location, you face several potential consequences:
Encroachment on Neighbor's Property
If your fence crosses onto your neighbor's land, even by a few inches, your neighbor has the right to demand you remove it. This is true even if the encroachment was unintentional. You bear the cost of moving the fence, any damage to the neighbor's property during construction, and potentially their legal fees if the matter escalates to court.
Adverse Possession Risk
In Washington, a neighbor who maintains actual, open, and continuous possession of a strip of your property for 10 years can potentially claim title to it under adverse possession law. A fence that has been in the wrong place for years can create legal complications that are expensive to unwind.
Title Insurance Problems
A fence that encroaches on your neighbor's property (or a neighbor's fence that encroaches on yours) is a defect that must be disclosed in real estate transactions and can cloud title. Title insurers may exclude coverage for known encroachments. When you eventually sell, an encroaching fence becomes a negotiating problem or a deal-breaker.
Setback Requirements by Jurisdiction
Washington state does not set uniform fence setback requirements. Cities and counties set their own rules. Common patterns across Washington municipalities:
- Front yard fences: Most cities limit front yard fences to 3 or 4 feet in height. Seattle and Bellevue both cap front yard fences at 4 feet. Some cities prohibit solid fences entirely in the front yard.
- Side and rear fences: 6-foot fences are commonly permitted in side and rear yards without a permit.
- Corner lots: Often have additional restrictions because of sight-line safety requirements at intersections. A corner lot fence may have lower height limits extending further back from the street than an interior lot.
- Shoreline setbacks: Properties near Puget Sound, rivers, or lakes may be subject to Washington's Shoreline Management Act, which can restrict structures including fences within shoreline jurisdiction (typically 200 feet from the ordinary high water mark).
Before you purchase materials or hire a contractor, call your local building or planning department and ask about fence height limits, setback requirements, and whether a permit is needed. This call takes 10 minutes and can save you a forced tear-down later.
When a Survey Is Worth the Cost
A boundary survey before fence installation makes clear financial sense in several situations:
You and a Neighbor Disagree About the Line
If there is any dispute or uncertainty about where the boundary falls, a survey by a licensed PLS is the only way to get a legally defensible answer. A PLS determination carries legal weight in court proceedings and mediation.
The Property Has Never Been Formally Surveyed
Many rural and semi-rural Washington properties have never had monuments set by a licensed surveyor. Deed descriptions may describe boundaries in vague terms (natural features, chains, varas) that have shifted or disappeared over time. For these properties, you cannot assume the boundary is where a tape measure from the road suggests it is.
The Fence Will Be on or Near the Property Line
A fence set back several feet from the property line on your own land carries less legal risk than a fence along the property line. If you plan to build exactly on the line, a survey is the only way to know where that line actually is.
The Property Is in a Dense Urban Area
In Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, and other dense cities, lots are small and the distance between where a neighbor thinks the line is and where it actually is can be a matter of feet. Small errors matter a lot when lots are 50 to 80 feet wide.
What to Do If You Inherit a Neighbor Fence Dispute
If you have purchased a property and a neighbor is claiming your existing fence is in the wrong location, or if you believe a neighbor's fence encroaches on your land, the process is the same: hire a licensed PLS to do a boundary survey. Do not rely on the neighbor's survey or on informal measurements from property corners you cannot verify.
Washington courts give substantial weight to surveys performed by licensed PLS professionals who follow the BRPELS standards. The survey is the starting point for any formal dispute resolution.
Find a Licensed Surveyor Before You Build
Our directory lists licensed Washington Professional Land Surveyors by county. Search Washington surveyors to find a licensed PLS near you, compare firms, and get quotes for a boundary survey before your fence installation begins.