A Fence Builder's Guide to Laurelhurst, Seattle
Laurelhurst is a residential neighborhood in northeast Seattle. Wikipedia places it between Ivanhoe Place NE, Sand Point Way NE and NE 45th Street, Mary Gates Memorial Drive NE, Union Bay, and Lake Washington, with Windermere, Hawthorne Hills, Ravenna, University Village, and the University of Washington beyond those lines.
For a fence builder, the first questions on most lots are where the lot line runs, which side holds the water view, and which trees the posts must avoid.
A long neighborhood history
Wikipedia says the Duwamish people lived around present-day Laurelhurst for thousands of years. HistoryLink says the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad reached Laurelhurst by 1887, on a route followed today by the Burke-Gilman Trail, and that Seattle annexed the neighborhood in 1910.
Older lots can carry old fences, walls, and hedges along the line. We check what is there before planning a new run.
Park, club and hospital edges
Laurelhurst Playfield, the landmark community center, the Laurelhurst Beach Club, and Seattle Children's Hospital all sit in or on the edge of the neighborhood, according to Wikipedia and Seattle Parks. Homes on those edges often want a finished outside face and a gate that is easy to reach.
Seattle fence rules in brief
Seattle's fence guidance says no permit is needed for a fence 8 feet or less without masonry or concrete elements over 6 feet. In neighborhood residential zones the zoning code limits fences to 6 feet, or 4 feet in a front or street-side setback.
Next steps
If you are planning a fence in Laurelhurst, start with the address, approximate linear footage, photos of the street and yard edges, and notes about the view, grade, trees, pets, and access. From there we can quote the property, recommend materials for Seattle's wet weather, and schedule the work, backed by our 5-year craftsmanship warranty.