Issaquah Highlands, Issaquah WA
Issaquah Highlands HOA Fence Guide
A plain-English guide to the Issaquah Highlands Community Association's published fence rules and steps, plus the City of Issaquah's fence code.
SeattleFence is an independent contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an approved vendor of the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA). Last checked against its public pages on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so use the current versions.
What the IHCA is
The Issaquah Highlands Community Association is the homeowners association for Issaquah Highlands. Its Architectural Review Committee (ARC) reviews changes to home exteriors, fencing, and yards.
The community's history page says developer Port Blakely set up the IHCA in 1997, and the first residents moved in in 1998. Today the community reports over 4,000 homes.
IHCA fence rules at a glance
These come from Section 8 of the IHCA's ARC Guidelines. This is a summary, so read the full text before you design.
| Item | What the IHCA says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Front-yard fence, rockery, or wall | 42 inches combined max; picket or similar open style only | ARC Guidelines §8 |
| Side and rear wood or metal fences | 6 feet max | ARC Guidelines §8 |
| Living fence (trees or shrubs) | 8 feet max in side or back yards | ARC Guidelines §8 |
| Next to streets, sidewalks, trails, parks, open space | Over 48 inches must meet a 50% visually permeable option; 48 inches or less may be solid | ARC Guidelines §8 |
| Side fence placement | At least 5 feet back from the front corners of the house or garage, unless joined to a front fence, hedge, or wall | ARC Guidelines §8 |
| Finish | Wood painted or stained when built; metal powder- or vinyl-coated black | ARC Guidelines §8 |
| Slopes over 15% visible from public space | Fence steps in sections | ARC Guidelines §8 |
| Electrified fencing | Prohibited | ARC Guidelines §8 |
| Alleys | Set back at least 4 feet from the alley right-of-way | ARC Guidelines §8 |
Fence styles that usually fit
The IHCA publishes its own list of pre-approved fence styles and stain colors. The table below is general planning advice from SeattleFence, not the IHCA list. The IHCA decides what it accepts.
| Style | Look | Privacy | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar picket | Spaced vertical pickets | Low | The only kind of style the IHCA allows in a front yard, up to 42 inches combined. |
| Picture frame cedar | Boards framed by a top rail and side trim | High | Looks finished from both sides, which the IHCA asks for. Stain it when built. |
| Solid cedar with open top | Solid lower boards with lattice or pickets above | Medium-high | One way to meet the 50% openness option above 48 inches next to a trail or street. |
| Black metal | Powder-coated or vinyl-coated black panels | Low | The IHCA requires black coating on metal fences. |
Photos show SeattleFence projects elsewhere in the area and are not images of any Issaquah Highlands home or fence.
Notification and approval steps
Plan on two separate checks, the IHCA and the City of Issaquah. SeattleFence does not issue either one.
Read the IHCA fence guidelines
Start with Section 8 of the ARC Guidelines and the pre-approved styles and stain colors linked from the IHCA's changes page.
Talk to your neighbors
The IHCA recommends discussing privacy fence plans with neighbors before filing, because a privacy fence changes how adjacent lots look.
Check the City of Issaquah
Confirm front-yard height, critical areas, and whether the fence is over 6 feet and needs a building permit.
Submit the Fence Installation Notification
Submit the notification form before installation, with a labeled picture of the style and gate, a stain sample if needed, and a plat plan with distances.
ARC review if needed
If the design or color is not pre-approved, or you request a review, the ARC reviews it. The ARC meets the first Tuesday of each month and applications are due seven days earlier.
Build, then file completion
Build the fence as submitted, then send the Completion Verification Form. Keep copies, since the IHCA says the owner is responsible for proof.
Issaquah's fence code
The City's Decks & Fences page says residential fences do not need a building permit unless the fence is in a critical area or more than 6 feet tall.
In the Single-Family Duplex zone, IMC 18.700.160 allows a low front-yard fence up to 4 feet, as long as the home's entry stays visible from the street. The IHCA's 42-inch front-yard limit is stricter, so plan to the lower number.
The city's site design standards restrict chain-link on single-family lots unless an active Architectural Review Committee allows it, and name Issaquah Highlands as an example.
Issaquah Highlands fence-guide questions
Is Issaquah Highlands an HOA?
Yes. The community's website calls the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) the Issaquah Highlands homeowners association. Its history page says developer Port Blakely established the IHCA in 1997. SeattleFence is not affiliated with the IHCA.
Do I need IHCA approval to build a fence?
You need to tell the IHCA first. Its home and landscape changes page says to complete the Fence Installation Notification form for a new fence. If the fence is a pre-approved style and color, no application fee is required unless you ask for a formal ARC review or the design is not pre-approved. Replacing a fence with the same style and color needs no application.
How tall can my fence be in Issaquah Highlands?
The IHCA guidelines limit the combined height of a front-yard fence, rockery, or retaining wall to 42 inches. Wood and metal fences in side or back yards may not exceed 6 feet, and living fences of trees or shrubs may not exceed 8 feet. Extra openness rules apply above 48 inches next to public spaces.
When does the IHCA Architectural Review Committee meet?
The IHCA says the ARC meets on the first Tuesday of every month, and applications are due seven days before the meeting. Confirm current dates with the IHCA Community Manager.
Does the City of Issaquah require a fence permit?
The City says residential fences do not need a building permit unless the fence is in a critical area or more than 6 feet tall. In the Single-Family Duplex zone, a front-yard fence may be up to 4 feet. The IHCA's form notes that HOA approval does not replace city permits.
Can SeattleFence get my fence approved?
No. Only the IHCA can accept your notification or approve an ARC application. SeattleFence can give you the style, height, color, and a site sketch to attach to your form.
Get a quote for your Issaquah Highlands home
Tell us the address, approximate length, the style you have in mind, and any slopes or retaining walls along the line. We will price the fence and give you a labeled sketch and style details for your IHCA form.
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Sources
Every association and city claim on this page comes from one of these public sources. Rules change. Read the current IHCA guidelines and your CC&Rs, and confirm city rules before you build.
- Issaquah Highlands — Make Home & Landscape Changes
The IHCA is the Issaquah Highlands homeowners association and its Architectural Review Committee (ARC) reviews exterior, fencing, and yard changes; the ARC meets the first Tuesday of each month with applications due seven days before; a new fence needs the Fence Installation Notification form; pre-approved styles and colors need no application fee unless a formal ARC review is requested or the design is not pre-approved; no application is needed if the existing fence style and color do not change; links to the fence guidelines, pre-approved fence styles, and pre-approved stain colors.
- Issaquah Highlands — ARC Guidelines (Section 8, Fences)
Wood fences painted or stained when built; fences on slopes over 15% visible from public space step in sections; desirable appearance from both sides; metal fences powder- or vinyl-coated black; electrified fencing prohibited; front-yard fence, rockery, or wall combined height 42 inches max, picket or similar open style only; side/rear fences next to streets, sidewalks, trails, parks, or open space over 48 inches must meet a 50% visual-permeability option; 48 inches or less may be solid or open; living fences max 8 feet; wood and metal side/rear fences max 6 feet; side fences set back 5 feet from the front corners of the house or garage unless connected to a front fence, hedge, or wall; a gate or opening on at least one side; 4-foot setback from alley right-of-way. Also: ARC approval before work, applications after work starts are invalid and may lead to removal and fines, and owners are responsible for any City approvals.
- IHCA ARC Guidelines PDF (updated March 2025)
Pre-approved living, wood, or metal fences do not need a formal application review, but a voluntary ARC review may be requested; the Fence Installation Notification must be submitted before installation; a Completion Verification Form is required; the applicant is responsible for proof of notification and completion; the ARC recommends discussing privacy fences with neighbors before applying.
- IHCA Fence Installation Notification form (2024)
Required attachments: a picture of the fence style and gate with labeled dimensions, a stain sample if the color is not pre-approved, and a plat plan showing the fence location with distances labeled; questions about slopes, rockeries, and retaining walls; the ARC reviews aesthetics only, not code or structure, and its approval does not replace City of Issaquah or King County permits.
- Issaquah Highlands — History
Port Blakely bought the land in 1989-1990 and established the IHCA in 1997; first residents moved in in 1998.
- Issaquah Highlands — About Us
The community reports over 4,000 homes, 26 parks, 1,540 acres of open space, and 10+ miles of trails.
- City of Issaquah — Decks & Fences
Residential fences do not need a building permit unless in a critical area or over 6 feet; front-setback maximum of 4 feet in the SF-D zone (IMC 18.700.160); additional HOA restrictions or approvals may be required.
- Issaquah Land Use Code 18.700.160 — Front yard and fence standards (SF-D)
A low front-yard fence no taller than 4 feet; the home's prominent entry must stay visible from the street.
- Issaquah Land Use Code 18.600 Art. IV — Site Design Standards
Chain-link is not allowed for single-family lots unless allowed by architectural standards or an active Architectural Review Committee, naming Issaquah Highlands and Talus as examples; electric fence restrictions.
- City of Issaquah — Do I Need a Permit?
Fences not over 6 feet do not need a building permit; Klahanie and Mirrormont are outside city jurisdiction.