What RCW 16.60 actually covers
Washington's line-fence chapter addresses adjoining owners, partition fences, notices, and cost responsibility in the circumstances described by the statute. It should not be reduced to "your neighbor always owes half." The result depends on how the adjoining land is enclosed and used, the fence, and the statutory process.
If contribution is disputed, obtain legal advice before building. A surveyor can determine and mark the boundary, but does not decide who owes the fence invoice.
Local rules vary
Washington cities and counties regulate fences differently. Seattle's current guidance, for example, sets city-specific height and permit triggers and asks for scaled plans for taller fences. Those rules apply only in Seattle. Check the exact jurisdiction for the property address.
Shoreline and critical-area properties
On property near a shoreline, wetland, steep slope, or mapped critical area, ask the local planner whether another review applies. Washington's Shoreline Management Act is implemented through local shoreline master programs. A survey can locate features included in its scope; it does not replace the local land-use decision.
Boundary evidence that should stop the project
Washington's professional licensing law treats locating property lines as professional land surveying. Pause when the old fence and parcel viewer disagree, corners are missing, the line follows a bluff or long rural course, the neighbor objects, or the local reviewer requires distances from established lot lines.
Define what the installer will receive
Ask whether the survey estimate includes corner recovery, setting missing corners, marking one line at stated intervals, and a signed map. Provide the deed, title report, recorded plat or survey, parcel number, access information, and proposed fence route.
Finish the handoff
After staking, walk the line with the contractor and decide whether the fence will be on the boundary or set inside it. Photograph and protect the marks. Request utility marking before excavation. Local approval, boundary determination, and utility locating are separate controls.