{"title":"Belcarra 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/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","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":"Village of Belcarra","url":"https://belcarra.ca"},"short_answer":"In Belcarra a fence that meets the Zoning Bylaw needs no building permit. Fences may be up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft) high in the front yard and 2 m (6.6 ft) behind the front face of a building. A retaining wall or berm is capped at 2.4 m.","aliases":["fence height belcarra","fence permit belcarra","fence bylaw belcarra","retaining wall belcarra"],"cost":"No fence permit fee is stated; a fence permitted under the Zoning Bylaw needs no building permit.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"4084 Bedwell Bay Road, Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8","note":"Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)."},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"604-937-4100"},{"type":"email","label":"Village Office","value":"belcarra@belcarra.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF)","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf"},{"title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF)","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Belcarra building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Belcarra zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Belcarra permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/fence-rules/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/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 is needed for a fence permitted under the Zoning Bylaw (Building Bylaw s. 14). A fence on the public road allowance may not be replaced without the Village's written permission.","short":"No building permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 14(1)","quotes":["a fence permitted to be constructed under the Village"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-361-2004-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 361, 2004 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 5.1.4(j)(ii)","quotes":["any fence located on public road allowance shall not be replaced without written permission from the municipality"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_front":{"label":"Height, front yard","value":"1.8 m (5.9 ft) in the front yard.","short":"1.8 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 219(1)","quotes":["Fences shall not exceed a height of 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in the front yard"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"height_side_rear":{"label":"Height, side and rear yards","value":"2 m (6.6 ft) to the rear of the front face of a building.","short":"2 m","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 219(1)","quotes":["or a height of 2 metres (6.6 feet) to the rear of the front face of a building"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"corner_lots":{"label":"Corner lots and sightlines","value":"On a corner parcel nothing may block the line of vision between 1.0 m and 3.0 m above the road grade within the sight triangle, formed by extending 4.5 m along both parcel lines from the corner.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 218","quotes":["On a corner parcel in any zone there shall be no obstruction to the line of vision between the heights of 1.0 metres (3.3 feet) and 3.0 metres (9.8 feet) above the established grade of a highway","a triangular area formed by extending a 4.5-metre (14.8-foot) boundary along the parcel lines"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_rules":{"label":"Other rules","value":"Retaining wall or berm, including a guard, max 2.4 m (7.9 ft); combined with a fence or guard it is still capped at 2.4 m, measured from the wall's grade. Fences must not be unsightly, unstable or unsafe. A pool needs a barrier at least 1.06 m high, non-climbable, with self-closing, self-latching gates.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 219(2)-(3)","quotes":["A Retaining Wall or berm, including a Guard, shall not exceed a height of 2.4 metres (7.9 feet);"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-361-2004-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 361, 2004 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 5.1.4(j)","quotes":["a fence to become unsightly, unstable or unsafe"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 142(2)(b) Swimming pool","quotes":["minimum 1.06 metre barrier comprised of non-climbable fencing, self closing and self latching gates"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Village of Belcarra Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018, s. 219 (Fences and Retaining Walls)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 219","quotes":["219 – Fences and Retaining Walls","Village of Belcarra Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nBelcarra's [Zoning Bylaw No. 510](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf), s. 219, sets fence heights. Under the [Building Bylaw](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf), s. 14, no building permit is needed for a fence permitted under the Zoning Bylaw. The Zoning Bylaw mentions no separate fence permit.\n\n- Front yard: up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft).\n- To the rear of the front face of a building: up to 2 m (6.6 ft).\n- Retaining wall or berm, including a guard: up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft). A fence or guard on top still counts toward the 2.4 m, measured from the wall's grade.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- On a corner parcel, nothing may block the line of vision between 1.0 m and 3.0 m above the road grade within the sight triangle, formed by extending 4.5 m along both parcel lines from the corner.\n- Fences must not be unsightly, unstable or unsafe (Good Neighbour Bylaw).\n- A fence on the public road allowance may not be replaced without the Village's written permission.\n- A swimming pool needs a barrier at least 1.06 m high that cannot be climbed, with self-closing, self-latching gates.\n- The Zoning Bylaw does not say how height is measured. Ask the Village Office, 604-937-4100.","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-361-2004-Good-Neighbour-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 361, 2004 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","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/belcarra/fence-rules/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/fence-rules.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/fence-rules.json"}}