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Belcarra fence rules: permits and height limits

Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?

Belcarra, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

PermitNo 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.Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 14(1); Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 361, 2004 (PDF, consolidated), s. 5.1.4(j)(ii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
a fence permitted to be constructed under the Village
any fence located on public road allowance shall not be replaced without written permission from the municipality
Height, front yard1.8 m (5.9 ft) in the front yard.Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 219(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Fences shall not exceed a height of 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in the front yard
Height, side and rear yards2 m (6.6 ft) to the rear of the front face of a building.Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 219(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
or a height of 2 metres (6.6 feet) to the rear of the front face of a building
Corner lots and sightlinesOn 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 218 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
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
Other rulesRetaining 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 219(2)-(3); Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 361, 2004 (PDF, consolidated), s. 5.1.4(j); Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 142(2)(b) Swimming pool · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A Retaining Wall or berm, including a Guard, shall not exceed a height of 2.4 metres (7.9 feet);
a fence to become unsightly, unstable or unsafe
minimum 1.06 metre barrier comprised of non-climbable fencing, self closing and self latching gates
BylawVillage of Belcarra Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018, s. 219 (Fences and Retaining Walls)Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 219 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
219 – Fences and Retaining Walls
Village of Belcarra Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018

How it works

Belcarra's Zoning Bylaw No. 510, s. 219, sets fence heights. Under the Building Bylaw, s. 14, no building permit is needed for a fence permitted under the Zoning Bylaw. The Zoning Bylaw mentions no separate fence permit.

  • Front yard: up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft).
  • To the rear of the front face of a building: up to 2 m (6.6 ft).
  • 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.

Good to know

  • 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.
  • Fences must not be unsightly, unstable or unsafe (Good Neighbour Bylaw).
  • A fence on the public road allowance may not be replaced without the Village's written permission.
  • A swimming pool needs a barrier at least 1.06 m high that cannot be climbed, with self-closing, self-latching gates.
  • The Zoning Bylaw does not say how height is measured. Ask the Village Office, 604-937-4100.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Port Moody · Anmore · Coquitlam · New Westminster · Burnaby · Port Coquitlam

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 361, 2004 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.