{"title":"Armstrong fence rules: permits and height limits","question":"Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?","slug":"fence-rules","place":{"path":"ca/bc/armstrong","name":"Armstrong","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Armstrong","url":"https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca"},"short_answer":"In the City of Armstrong a fence the Zoning Bylaw permits needs no building permit, but a fence around a swimming pool, spa or hot tub does. Fences and hedges up to 1.2 m may go anywhere on a lot. Taller fences, up to 2 m, are allowed only behind the required front yard.","aliases":["fence height armstrong bc","backyard fence permit armstrong","privacy fence rules armstrong"],"cost":"No fee is stated for a fence that meets the zoning bylaw. A pool, spa or hot tub fence needs a building permit (see the building permit fees answer).","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"email","label":"Manager of Planning Services (zoning questions)","value":"planner@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Official (pool fences)","value":"inspector@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"City Hall","value":"250-546-3023"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 1921, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358"},{"title":"Building Bylaw 1903, 2022 (PDF)","url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Armstrong building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Armstrong zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Armstrong permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/spallumcheen","name":"Spallumcheen","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/enderby","name":"Enderby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lumby","name":"Lumby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/fence-rules/"}],"topic":{"title":"Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules/"},"facts":{"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"No building permit for a fence that the zoning bylaw permits. A fence around a swimming pool, spa or hot tub does need a building permit.","short":"No building permit (yes for pool fences)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 3.4(b), 7.1(o)","quotes":["except as set out in Part 12 of this bylaw, a fence permitted to be constructed under the City’s zoning bylaw;","constructing swimming pools, hot tub installation, and swimming pool fences;"]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165846","title":"A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023), City of Armstrong","section":"Guide","quotes":["retaining structures that are 1.2 m in height or less, and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.2 m (about 3.9 feet). Fences and hedges up to 1.2 m may be anywhere on a lot; taller fences are allowed only to the rear of the required front yard.","short":"1.2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 5.1.6(a), (b)","quotes":["In all zones, fences and hedges not greater than 1.2m (3.937 feet) in","fences or walls not greater than 2m (6.562 feet) in height may be located on any lot to the rear of a required front yard"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"Up to 2 m (about 6.6 feet) behind the required front yard in all zones except Industrial (2.5 m in Industrial zones). Along an exterior (street) side lot line the limit is 1.2 m.","short":"2 m (1.2 m on street side)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 5.1.6(b), (c)","quotes":["fences or walls not greater than 2m (6.562 feet) in height may be located on any lot to the rear of a required front yard, except along an exterior side lot line, in which case the","maximum fence height shall be 1.2m (3.937 feet).","In Industrial zones, fences or hedges not greater than 2.5m (8.202 feet) in"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"Nothing over 1.0 m high (fence, wall, hedge, shrub, tree or other obstruction) in the triangle at a street corner formed by the lot lines and a line joining points 6 m back from where they meet.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 5.2.1","quotes":["not be erected maintained or allowed to grow to a height greater than 1.0m in the","area bounded by the intersection of lot lines at","a line joining points along said lot line 6m from their points of intersection"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Height is measured from ground level; on a sloping lot, at the midpoint between fence posts. A retaining wall projecting above the ground it holds is treated as a screen. Pool, spa or hot tub fences (over 0.6 m deep) must be at least 1.5 m high, with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 5.1.2, 5.1.3","quotes":["shall be determined by measurement from the ground level. In the case of a sloping lot, fence height","shall be measured at the midpoint between fence posts.","Any portion of a retaining wall which projects above the surface of the ground"]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 12.2, 12.3","quotes":["having a minimum height of 1.5 metres and no openings greater than 100","mm at their least dimension.","a self-closing and self-latching gate"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (s. 5.1.6 and 5.2.1); Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (Part 12, pools)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 1.1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw shall be referred to as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024”."]},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as “City of Armstrong Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nIn the City of Armstrong, the [Building Bylaw 1903](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102) does not apply to a fence permitted under the City's zoning bylaw, so an ordinary fence needs no building permit. Fences around swimming pools, spas and hot tubs still do. Heights are set in section 5 of the [Zoning Bylaw 1921, 2024](https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358).\n\nHeight is measured from ground level. On a sloping lot it is measured at the midpoint between fence posts. A retaining wall that projects above the ground it holds is treated as a screen.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your zone and required front yard (see the zoning lookup answer or ask Planning).\n2. Keep within the height limits below.\n3. For a pool, spa or hot tub fence, apply for a building permit first.\n4. For a retaining wall over 1.2 m, apply for a building permit.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Up to 1.2 m (about 3.9 feet): fences and hedges may go anywhere on a lot.\n- Up to 2 m (about 6.6 feet): allowed behind the required front yard in all zones except Industrial, where the limit is 2.5 m. Along an exterior (street) side lot line the limit is 1.2 m.\n- Where a lot's rear line meets the side line of a neighbouring residential lot, the rear fence can be no taller than allowed on that side line.\n- Corner lots: nothing over 1.0 m high (fence, wall, hedge, shrub, tree or other obstruction) in the triangle at a street corner formed by the lot lines and a line joining points 6 m back from where they meet. Open mesh or chain link fences at cemeteries, parks, playgrounds and schools, and in commercial and industrial zones, are exempt, up to 3.5 m.\n- Pool, spa or hot tub fences (over 0.6 m deep) must be at least 1.5 m high, with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate.\n- The bylaw does not state rules for barbed wire or electric fences; ask Planning.","sources":[{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/181358","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1921, 2024 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 1928, 2024), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/164102","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1903, 2022 (PDF), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://armstrong.civicweb.net/document/165846","title":"A Guide to Building Permits (March 2023), City of Armstrong","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fence-rules.json"}}