GovHandbook

Bowen Island fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Bowen Island, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

On Bowen Island a fence does not need a building permit (retaining walls are the exception), but one in a development permit area may need a development permit. Fences up to 2.5 m high may go on any part of a lot. Ask Planning about anything taller.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit for a fence (retaining walls are the exception). A fence in a development permit area may still need a development permit.Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 (PDF, consolidated for convenience to November 24, 2025), s. 3.3(a); Building and Planning Frequently Asked Questions, Bowen Island Municipality, Building Department FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This bylaw does not apply to
except as set out in Part 11 [Retaining Walls] of this bylaw, a fence;
Although a building permit may not be needed, a development permit would be required for work within a development permit area.
Height, front yardFences not exceeding 2.5 metres high may be sited on any portion of a lot, with no separate front yard limit. On a corner lot, see the corner visibility rule.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.29; Building and Planning Frequently Asked Questions, Bowen Island Municipality, Building Department FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Fences not exceeding a height of 2.5 metres may be sited on any portion of a lot,
Fences not exceeding a height of 2.5 metres (approx. 8 ft) can be built anywhere on a property and can be built right up to a property line.
Height, side and rear yardsFences not exceeding 2.5 metres (about 8 ft) high may be sited on any portion of a lot, including right up to a property line.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.29; Building and Planning Frequently Asked Questions, Bowen Island Municipality, Building Department FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Fences not exceeding a height of 2.5 metres may be sited on any portion of a lot,
can be built right up to a property line.
Corner lots and sightlinesOn a corner lot, no fence (or landscaping, building or structure) may be erected within the triangle formed by the highway lines and a line joining points 6 metres from their intersection, to a height greater than 1 metre above highway grade and less than 3 metres.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.32 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
On a corner lot within the triangular space formed by the highway lines and the line
joining the points on the highway lines six (6) metres from the point of intersection of
no landscape screen, landscaping, fences, building or structure shall
Other rulesA swimming pool, spa or hot tub must be enclosed by a fence at least 1.5 m high with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate. Height of a structure is measured from the lower of natural or finished grade to its highest point. Retaining walls up to 1.5 m high may be sited on any portion of a lot.Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 (PDF, consolidated for convenience to November 24, 2025), s. 13.2; Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.28 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A swimming pool, including a spa or hot tub, must be enclosed within a fence constructed
minimum height of 1.5 metres and no openings greater than 100 mm
Retaining walls not exceeding a height of 1.5 metres may be sited on any portion of a
means for the purposes of structures, the vertical distance from the lower of the natural
BylawLand Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002, s. 3.29 (fence height), s. 3.32 (corner visibility); Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019, s. 3.3(a) and Part 11, s. 13.2.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), Title page; Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 (PDF, consolidated for convenience to November 24, 2025), s. 3.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Land Use Bylaw (Consolidated November 2025)
This bylaw does not apply to

How it works

Bowen Island Municipality's Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 does not cover a fence, except a retaining wall, so a fence needs no building permit. The Municipality's FAQ says a fence in a development permit area may still need a development permit. Use BowMap (the Municipality's online map) to see whether your property is in one.

The Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (s. 3.29) says fences not exceeding 2.5 metres (about 8 ft) high may be sited on any portion of a lot, including right up to a property line. It makes no front, side or rear distinction. The bylaw does not say what applies to a fence taller than 2.5 m.

Steps

  1. Keep the fence to 2.5 m or lower, and out of the corner visibility area if you are on a corner lot (below).
  2. Check BowMap, or ask Planning, whether your property is in a development permit area.
  3. If it is, ask Planning (604-947-4255 ext. 6, planning@bimbc.ca) whether a development permit is needed. The fee is $350.

Good to know

  • Corner lots: within the triangle formed by the highway lines and a line joining points 6 metres from their intersection, nothing may be built to a height greater than 1 metre above the highway grade and less than 3 metres (s. 3.32). The bylaw wording is awkward, so confirm with Planning.
  • Retaining walls: one up to 1.5 m high may be sited on any portion of a lot. Building Bylaw s. 11.1 requires a permit to build or structurally repair one, but s. 3.3(c) exempts a wall holding soil under 1.5 m high. Ask the Building Department.
  • Pools, spas and hot tubs must be enclosed by a fence at least 1.5 m high with no openings over 100 mm and a self-closing, self-latching gate (Building Bylaw s. 13.2).
  • Height is measured from the lower of natural or finished grade to the highest point.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

West Vancouver · Gibsons · Lions Bay · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver · Vancouver

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 489, 2019 (PDF, consolidated for convenience to November 24, 2025) (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Development Application Fees Bylaw No. 484, 2019 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Building and Planning Frequently Asked Questions, Bowen Island Municipality (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.