Lakeland Hills Fence Installation
Cedar privacy and spindle-top fencing for Lakeland Hills yards, with the Auburn city rules and the HOA guidelines explained up front.
A Planned Hillside Community in South Auburn
Lakeland Hills is a planned residential community in south Auburn. It grew in phases from the late 1970s, so yards, lot lines, and fence conditions vary a lot from street to street.
A fence here usually has to answer three questions: what the City of Auburn allows, what the Lakeland Hills Homeowners Association's guidelines say, and what works on a sloped lot. This guide walks through each one.
Lakeland Hills quick facts
| Topic | What to know | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Beginnings | The association's own history says a developer began Lakeland Hills about 1977. | Lakeland Hills HOA history |
| City plans | Auburn adopted the Lakeland Hills Plan for the King County portion in 1988, and the Lakeland Hills South Plan in 1998, when it annexed the Pierce County portion. | City of Auburn community profile |
| Park | Lakeland Hills Park, 1401 Evergreen Way SE, was dedicated in 1993 and sits on a wooded hillside. | City of Auburn |
| School | Lakeland Hills Elementary is part of the Auburn School District. | Lakeland Hills Elementary |
| HOA | The Lakeland Hills Homeowners Association publishes architectural guidelines for Divisions 1, 2, and 4A, dated January 27, 2026. | Association guidelines |
Auburn Fence Rules in Plain Language
These are the city rules we go over with Lakeland Hills homeowners before we draw a fence line. Always confirm the details for your parcel with the City of Auburn.
- Front setback: 42 inches, or 72 inches for chain link, wrought iron, or similar material that provides visibility.
- Side, rear, and street-side setbacks: 72 inches.
- Permit: building permits are required for fences over 84 inches. The city also asks owners with a fence over 6 feet to contact its Permit Center.
- Retaining walls: a fence on a retaining wall is measured from the base of the wall, and a permit may be required.
- Sight lines and access: a fence may not reduce required sight distances or block fire hydrants and utility access, and fences are generally prohibited in city utility easements.
Confirm with the city before you build
Zoning and permit rules change, and your parcel may have extra limits. Read Auburn City Code 18.31.020 and the city's permit FAQ, then contact the City of Auburn Permit Center if you are unsure.
What the Lakeland Hills HOA Guidelines Say
The Lakeland Hills Homeowners Association has an Architectural Control Committee (ACC). Its published standards for Divisions 1, 2, and 4A have a Fences section, and it is short.
The fence section, in short
- Fences must follow City of Auburn restrictions.
- Materials are wood, brick, or wrought iron.
- No chain-link, chicken wire, or barbed wire of any type.
- Specific ACC approval of a fence is not required if those conditions are met.
- Fencing visible from the street must be maintained, with no broken or missing pieces, no mismatched stains or paint, and uniform material.
The guidelines also say they supplement the association's Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions, and that the more restrictive document applies if they differ. We have not seen your covenants. They also say significant construction, alterations, or improvements need ACC approval of submitted plans, so ask the ACC if your fence is unusual or you are unsure. Start with the association's architectural standards and forms page.
Check your division first
The guidelines we found are for Lakeland Hills Divisions 1, 2, and 4A. Lakeland Hills grew in phases, and the association's contacts page lists other homeowners associations within the Lakeland Hills community, so not every address is in those divisions. Your closing documents or the association can confirm which rules apply to your lot.
We wrote a separate page that walks through the association's guidelines, the city rules, and the approval steps. Read the Lakeland Hills HOA fencing guide. MyFence is not affiliated with the association and is not an approved vendor.
Hillside Lots, Street Sides, and Gates
The City of Auburn describes Lakeland Hills Park as nestled into a wooded hillside, and its driving directions climb up the hill on Lakeland Hills Way. Lots here may have grade, and on a graded lot the details below matter more than the style.
Slopes and walls
Auburn measures a fence on a retaining wall from the base of the wall, so a fence and wall combination can be taller than it looks. We measure grade with Fence Genius so the plan you check with the city matches what we build. We can also add a post-on-pipe upgrade to keep wood posts out of wet soil.
Street sides and gates
The city sets a lower limit in the front setback and a higher one on street-side lines, and it expects a vehicle gate to sit far enough inside the lot that a waiting car does not block the street or sidewalk. Hydrants and utility access must stay clear.
Keep the street-facing side uniform
The HOA guidelines ask that fencing visible from the street be uniform and well maintained. A single material and stain across street-facing sections keeps a fence consistent with that guideline.
Contact Us About Your Lakeland Hills, Auburn Fence
Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Prefer to talk? Call us at (253) 455-1885
Fence Styles That Fit Lakeland Hills
The HOA guidelines list wood, brick, and wrought iron, so cedar is the most direct match for what we found. This is general guidance, not an HOA approval.
Craftsman Spindle-Top Privacy
Solid cedar boards below and a spindle detail along the top. It is the style in our recent Auburn photos below.
View style →Cedar Picture Frame
A cedar privacy fence with a framed top and base for side and rear lines.
View style →Hogwire and Hybrid (ask first)
Black hogwire and cedar-and-steel hybrid fences use materials the HOA fence section does not name. Ask the ACC before you plan either.
View hybrid style →Recent Auburn Fence Work
These photos are from MyFence jobs in Auburn. They are not from Lakeland Hills, but they show the same crew, materials, and finish we bring to a Lakeland Hills yard.
A cedar spindle-top privacy fence on an Auburn job (not in Lakeland Hills).
A cedar spindle-top privacy fence along a backyard on an Auburn job (not in Lakeland Hills).
More Fence Work in Auburn
These photos are from Auburn jobs, not specifically from Lakeland Hills.
Our Lakeland Hills Installation Process
1. Site Assessment
We walk the lot, measure the lines, and note slope, trees, gates, hydrants, and utility access. Fence Genius captures lengths and grade so panels are built to your yard.
2. Design, City Rules, and HOA Details
You pick the style and height. We go over the city's rules for your lot and give you the height, material, finish, and drawing the HOA committee asks for if you need its review.
3. Custom Panel Manufacturing
Panels are built off-site from the measurements, so install days are mostly setting posts and hanging finished sections.
4. Installation
We start after any needed approvals are in hand, protect nearby landscaping where possible, and clean up at the end of each day.
5. Walkthrough & 3-Year Warranty
A final walkthrough covers every panel, post, and gate. Our 3-year workmanship warranty starts when the job is complete.
Lakeland Hills Fence Installation FAQs
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Lakeland Hills, Auburn?
Auburn City Code 18.31.020 requires a building permit for fences over 84 inches high, and the city's permit FAQ asks owners with a fence over 6 feet to contact the Permit Center with their address or parcel number. A fence on a retaining wall may need a permit too. Confirm your lot with the City of Auburn before you build.
How tall can a fence be in Lakeland Hills?
Under Auburn City Code 18.31.020, fences in required setbacks are limited to 42 inches in the front setback (72 inches for chain link, wrought iron, or similar see-through material) and 72 inches in side, rear, and street-side setbacks. The code also measures a fence on a retaining wall from the base of the wall. The Lakeland Hills HOA guidelines we found do not state a fence height, so ask the HOA's Architectural Control Committee as well.
Does the Lakeland Hills HOA need to approve my fence?
The Lakeland Hills Homeowners Association's published guidelines for Divisions 1, 2, and 4A say specific approval of a fence is not required if it follows City of Auburn restrictions, is made of wood, brick, or wrought iron, and does not use chain-link, chicken wire, or barbed wire. Significant construction and alterations do need Architectural Control Committee approval, and the covenants still apply. Check which division your address is in and ask the ACC if you are unsure.
What fence styles work best for Lakeland Hills yards?
Cedar privacy fences, including picture-frame and Craftsman spindle-top builds, match the wood material the HOA guidelines list. Hogwire panels and aluminum-and-cedar hybrid fences use materials the guidelines do not name, so ask the ACC before you plan either. Keep street-facing sections uniform and in good repair, as the guidelines require.
How long does fence installation take in Lakeland Hills?
Many residential fence projects take one to three working days once any needed approvals are in place. Panels are built off-site from Fence Genius measurements, which keeps on-site time short. Tear-out of an old fence, a long run, or a steep lot can add time. We confirm the schedule with you before the crew arrives.
How much does a fence cost in Lakeland Hills?
Our Auburn pages show fence installation commonly ranging from $42 to $68 per linear foot depending on style and access, with cedar privacy at $42 to $58 per foot and Craftsman spindle-top privacy at $48 to $62 per foot. Grade changes and gates affect the final quote. Use the virtual quote tool for a starting number, and we confirm the price after an on-site measurement.
Discover Lakeland Hills
Explore Lakeland Hills's Top Attractions & Local Gems
- Lakeland Hills Park: A 5.05-acre City of Auburn neighborhood park at 1401 Evergreen Way SE, dedicated in 1993, with a play structure, informal field, picnic shelter, native woodland, and a 0.39-mile paved trail.
- Lakeland Hills Elementary School: An Auburn School District elementary school (PK to grade 5) at 1020 Evergreen Way SE.
- Lakeland Hills Homeowners Association: The association's downloads and forms page, which lists its Architectural Standards and Application for Alterations.
Local Living & Community
Lakeland Hills sits in south Auburn. Part of the community is in King County and part is in Pierce County, and the City of Auburn annexed the Pierce County portion in 1998, according to the city's community profile. Check the Auburn School District's boundary tools for the school that serves your address.
For the association's own account of how the community grew, see the Lakeland Hills HOA history.
Also Serving Nearby Areas
We install fences throughout Auburn and South King County.
Ready to Fence Your Lakeland Hills Yard?
We'll walk the lot, talk through privacy and slope, and give you a quote and the details your HOA committee asks for.