Poulsbo permit guide
Do you need a permit for a fence in Poulsbo?
Quoted from Poulsbo's own pages, with the date we read them: October 13, 2026.
Short answer
Depends on the project
The City of Poulsbo does not require a building permit for a fence 7 feet and under, and does require one for a fence over 7 feet high. Its fence handout adds that zoning and engineering may still need to review the project, depending on where the fence sits on your lot. Source [1]Source [2]
The rule, quoted
From the "Do I Need a Building Permit?" handout:
Fences: 7 feet and under. See Poulsbo Municipal Code 18.70.070 (for additional information/exceptions)
Fences: Over 7 feet high - see Poulsbo Municipal Code 18.70.070 (for additional information/exceptions)
From the City's "Fences in Residential Zones" handout:
Any fence that exceeds seven feet in height requires a building permit and shall conform to the International Building Code, as adopted and amended by the City of Poulsbo. However, zoning and engineering may need to review the project, depending on where the fence will be located on your lot.
What to submit
- Applications are made through the City's SmartGov online portal, and "Plans must be uploaded in PDF format through SmartGov (no secure or password-protected files)." Source [3]
- The Building Department's page lists the City's Building Permit Applications as a separate page. Source [3]
Worth knowing
- Height is measured from finished grade at the exterior side of the fence; for a fence on a retaining wall, "from the finished grade at the top of the retaining wall to the top of the fence." Source [2]
- "No fence shall be located in any public right-of-way, unless a right-of-way use permit is obtained from the City." Source [2]
- If your property "contains a critical area – such as a wetland, stream, or steep slope – or is within the Shoreline Jurisdiction, limitations on fence location may apply." Source [2]
- The City "recommends that your front yard fence be no more than 3 feet 6 inches high." That is a recommendation, not a permit trigger. Source [2]
- Prohibited fence types include barbed or razor wire and electric fencing, with an exception for livestock containment. Source [2]
Sources
Where this comes from
Compiled from Poulsbo's published rules; last checked
JKM pulls the permit as part of the job
Call Ian Laughlin at (206) 226-1988, or send the address and the scope. We find the right office and take it from there.