To get a fence or deck estimate in Hillsboro, send one request and we'll match you with a single vetted, licensed local pro who serves Hillsboro. They come out, measure your actual lot, and hand you a free written estimate. The service is free, your request is exclusive — it goes to one pro only and is never shared or auctioned to a call-center — and there's no obligation. Below: how the match works, plus Hillsboro's fence-height rules, when a permit is required, the HOA design-review step that trips up so many local homeowners, and real cost context.
Why use a matching service instead of cold-calling?
Searching "fence company Hillsboro Oregon" returns dozens of listings, ad spots, and lead-resale sites where your information gets sold to five contractors who all call you at dinner. We do the opposite. You tell us about your project once; we hand it to one vetted, licensed Hillsboro-area pro who's a fit for the job. No bidding war, no spam, no pressure.
- Vetted & licensed. The pro we match you with carries an active Oregon CCB license — which you can and should confirm yourself at search.ccb.state.or.us.
- Local to Hillsboro. Someone who knows Washington County soil, slope, and the HOA design-review reality in the newer subdivisions.
- Exclusive. One request, one pro. Your details are never resold or shared with a list of competitors.
- Free & no-obligation. You get a real on-site number for your yard. If it's not a fit, you walk.
Hillsboro fence height & permit rules
Before you measure for posts, know what Hillsboro allows. Fence height in Hillsboro is governed by the city's Community Development Code, and a separate question — whether you need a building permit — turns mostly on height and material. The table below summarizes the common residential rules. These are general guidelines that change with lot type and zoning, so confirm your specific address with the city before building.
| Location / type | Typical height limit | Building permit? |
|---|---|---|
| Front-yard setback (interior lot) | ~4 ft 2 in | No (if at or under limit) |
| Rear & side yards (residential) | Commonly up to ~6 ft | No (if ~6 ft or under) |
| Where residential abuts commercial/industrial zone | Up to ~8 ft 2 in | Check with city |
| Masonry or concrete fence/wall | Any height | Yes — always |
| Tall fence over the standard limit | Above limit | Yes — needs review/permit |
| Corner lots, flag lots, vision-clearance areas | Special rules apply | Confirm with city |
The headline rules: a front-yard fence of roughly 4 ft or under and a back/side-yard fence of roughly 6 ft or under generally don't need a building permit, but masonry and concrete fences always do, regardless of height. Corner lots, through lots, and flag lots have their own carve-outs, and a vision-clearance triangle at corners and driveways keeps fences low so drivers can see. Even when no building permit is needed, the zoning height limits still apply.
Hillsboro's Development & Permitting team (part of the Permitting Center at the Hillsboro Civic Center, 150 E Main Street, 4th Floor) handles both fence and deck permits. You can reach them at 503-681-6153 or email Permits@Hillsboro-Oregon.gov; many applications are submitted by email and paid online, with simple permits often issued within about a day.
Your Hillsboro HOA almost certainly has its own fence and deck rules — and they're separate from city code. Hillsboro is full of newer master-planned communities with active homeowners associations and architectural design-review committees: Orenco Station, Tanasbourne, and the rapidly growing South Hillsboro subdivisions are prime examples. Your HOA may dictate fence material (often cedar or a specific style), maximum height, stain color, picket spacing, and whether decks need a submitted plan. HOA approval is usually required before any work starts, and HOA rules are frequently stricter than the city's. Submit your design-review request early — approvals can take weeks. The Hillsboro-area pro we match you with can build to your HOA's spec, but securing the HOA's written approval is the homeowner's responsibility.
Deck permits in Hillsboro
Decks follow a clear Oregon rule: a deck more than 30 inches above the adjacent grade generally requires a building permit, while a low platform deck at or below 30 inches is usually exempt. Because much of Hillsboro's newer housing stock sits on graded lots and slopes, a lot of backyard decks clear that 30-inch line and do need a permit — plus, if the deck attaches to the house, proper ledger flashing and footings matter for both safety and inspection. Apply through the same Hillsboro Development & Permitting team noted above. As always, confirm the current requirement for your project with the city before you build.
Local cost context for Hillsboro
Hillsboro pricing tracks the broader Portland metro. Cedar — the Pacific Northwest default and the material many Hillsboro HOAs prefer — typically runs $25–45 per linear foot installed. For full per-material ranges and how to ballpark your own run, see our detailed Portland fence cost guide; for decks, see the Portland deck cost guide. A few Hillsboro-specific factors to keep in mind:
- HOA-spec materials. If your association requires a particular cedar grade, cap style, or stain, that can nudge the bid up versus a builder's-choice fence.
- Graded newer lots. Many South Hillsboro and Tanasbourne-area homes sit on engineered, sloped pads — racked panels and stepped runs cost more than a flat, straight line.
- Soil and the dig. Washington County clay makes post-holes slower and uses more concrete.
- Old fence removal. Replacing a builder-grade fence from a 2000s subdivision adds demolition and haul-off, commonly $3–8 per foot.
Neighborhoods we serve in Hillsboro
The pros we match you with cover Hillsboro and the surrounding Washington County tech corridor, including:
- Orenco Station — the walkable, transit-oriented master-planned community near the Intel campus, with strong HOA design standards.
- Tanasbourne — established subdivisions around the Streets of Tanasbourne and Rock Creek.
- South Hillsboro — the fast-growing newer subdivisions where most homes have active HOAs and graded lots.
- Downtown / Old Town Hillsboro, AmberGlen, and the broader Hillsboro–Aloha–Beaverton edge along the Sunset Corridor.
Whether you're in a brand-new South Hillsboro build or an older home off Tualatin Valley Highway, one request gets you matched to a local pro.
Always verify the CCB. Rose City Fence & Deck is a free matching service, not a contractor — so we don't display a license number for ourselves. Every Oregon contractor's CCB license is searchable for free at search.ccb.state.or.us. Before you sign anything, confirm the pro's license is active, the bond and insurance are in place, and there are no recent disciplinary actions.
Ready for a real number on your Hillsboro project?
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