Bellevue — Ch. 8 Buildings, Housing, and Construction § 8-2
Privacy fencing
Operative Text
(a) No privacy fence shall be constructed or placed on or in any front yard or corner side yard. Privacy fences may be constructed or placed on other portions of lots but may not exceed six feet in height. (b) The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Corner side yard means that portion of open space on any corner lot, unoccupied and unobstructed by any buildings or structures, between the side of the main building on the lot facing a street extended to the front and rear lot lines and the street right-of-way contiguous to the lot on the side of the main building. Front yard means that portion of open space on any lot, unoccupied and unobstructed by any buildings or structures, between the front of the main building located on the lot extended to each side lot line and extended to the street right-of-way contiguous to the lot in front of the main building. Privacy fence means any fence that cannot be seen through, including, but not limited to, solid wood, brick, concrete, block or stone fences. The term "privacy fence" does not include picket or chain-link fences except chain-link fences with screening slats.
Bellevue § 8-2 restricts where and how tall privacy fences — defined as opaque barriers such as solid wood, brick, concrete, or chain-link with screening slats — may be placed on a residential lot. Such fences are prohibited entirely in front yards and corner side yards, and in all other areas of a lot they may not rise above six feet. Open-style fences like standard picket or unslotted chain-link are not subject to these restrictions and may be placed without regard to this rule.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Bellevue should be aware that § 8-2 governs the placement and height of any opaque fencing on their lots. A compliant operator generally ensures that no privacy fence is installed in a front yard or corner side yard, and that any privacy fence elsewhere on the property does not exceed six feet in height. Reviewing fence materials against the definitions in § 8-2(b) — particularly the inclusion of chain-link fences fitted with screening slats — helps confirm whether a planned installation falls under this provision before construction begins.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Bellevue § 8-2, tenants have an interest in understanding that privacy fences on their rental property are subject to placement and height rules that the property owner is responsible for following. If a fence has been constructed in a front yard, corner side yard, or exceeds six feet in height elsewhere, that may represent a code violation that can be reported to the relevant Bellevue municipal code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local building codes can help residents understand what options are generally available when a property appears to be out of compliance with § 8-2.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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