---
title: "Burnaby fence rules: permits and height limits"
question: "Do I need a permit to build a fence, and how high can it be?"
place: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/burnaby
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Burnaby
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/fence-rules/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/fence-rules.json"
---

# Burnaby fence rules: permits and height limits

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

**Short answer:** In Burnaby a fence does not need a building permit but must meet the Zoning Bylaw 2026. The limit is 1.07 m in a required front yard and, behind it, 1.8 m in residential, commercial and park districts. Retaining walls over 1.2 m need a building permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Burnaby, https://www.burnaby.ca)  
**Cost:** No building permit is needed for a fence, so there is no permit fee.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Department, 604-294-7130
- Email: Planning (zoning questions), planning@burnaby.ca

## Key facts

- **Permit:** No building permit for fences. A building permit is needed for retaining walls over 1.2 m, terraced groups where any wall is over 1.2 m, walls terraced steeper than 1 to 1, or where the Building Inspector sees site or safety concerns.
  - Source: [Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide, Fences and Retaining Walls guide, "Permit and Inspection"](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2021-08/Fences-and-Retaining-Walls-Informational-Guide.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Permits are not required for the construction of fences and screening walls." … "Building Permits are required for the construction of all retaining walls in all districts that are:" … "greater than 1.2 m (3.94 ft.) in height; or"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2016, No. 13658 (consolidated PDF), s. 3 definition of structure; s. 11(1)(c)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/13658CC.pdf)
  - Official wording: "but specifically excludes paving, fences, retaining walls other than those" … "that is greater than 1.2 m (3.94 ft.) in height; or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, front yard:** 1.07 m in a required front yard in all zoning districts, except enclosures for outdoor play areas (up to 1.8 m) and required screening.
  - Source: [Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations, Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4, s. 4.5(2)(a)](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2026-06/Part-4-General-Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "fences may not exceed 1.07 m in height when located within a required" … "front yard, with the exception of:" … "enclosures for outdoor play areas, which may not exceed 1.8 m in height; or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Height, side and rear yards:** Anywhere to the rear of the required front yard: 1.8 m in R, C and P districts; 2.4 m in E, I and A districts. In E and I districts, fences outside required yards may reach the principal building height limit.
  - Source: [Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations, Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4, s. 4.5(2)(b)-(c)](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2026-06/Part-4-General-Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Anywhere on a lot to the rear of a required front yard, fences may not exceed:" … "1.8 m in height in the R, C, and P Districts; and" … "2.4 m in height in the E, I, and A Districts."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Corner lots and sightlines:** Vision clearance applies to all fences. At a lane-to-lane corner nothing (fence, wall, hedge, tree) is allowed within 3.0 m of the corner. At a lane corner (6.0 m) or street-to-street corner (9.0 m), structures and fences may not exceed 1.07 m, and plants may not block vision. (Sources differ: The 2022 City fences guide says 1 m (not 1.07 m) at street and lane corners; the current Zoning Bylaw 2026 table says 1.07 m. The bylaw is followed. The bylaw table's layout is a merged cell, so the 1.07 m limit is read as applying at both the 6.0 m and 9.0 m rows.)
  - Source: [Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations, Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4, s. 1.5 and s. 4.5(1)](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2026-06/Part-4-General-Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All fences shall be subject to the vision clearance requirements in Section 1.5." … "No above-grade building, structure, landscape feature," … "hedge, tree, or other vegetation, including fences or" … "retaining walls, are permitted." … "than 1.07 m, and no hedge, shrub, tree, or other"
  - Source: [Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide, Fences and Retaining Walls guide, "Clearance at Intersections"](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2021-08/Fences-and-Retaining-Walls-Informational-Guide.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No higher than 1 m (3.51 ft.) within 9.0 m (29.53 ft.) of the point of intersection of the property lines at any street/street corner."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other rules:** Height is measured from average grade within 0.9 m of both sides of the fence. Barbed and razor wire are banned except in E and I districts. A fence on a retaining wall must look different from the wall. Retaining walls max 1.2 m (a variance or like-for-like replacement can differ). Pool enclosures min 1.5 m high.
  - Source: [Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations, Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4, s. 4.5(4)-(6), 4.6(1)](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2026-06/Part-4-General-Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Barbed wire, razor wire, or similar materials with sharp projections shall not be used in the construction" … "The height of a fence shall be determined by measurement from average grade within 0.9 m of both" … "from that used in the construction of the retaining wall, and in a manner that is visually dissimilar to the" … "retaining walls shall not exceed 1.2 m in height, as measured at any point along" … "except within the E and I Districts or for correctional institutions permitted in the P2 District." … "the height may be varied through a development variance permit where a retaining wall has"
  - Source: [Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide, Fences and Retaining Walls guide, "Swimming Pool Barriers"](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2021-08/Fences-and-Retaining-Walls-Informational-Guide.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Burnaby's Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw requires a minimum 1.5 m (5 ft) high non-climbable" … "enclosure to limit access to the pool area."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 (No. 14815), Part 4: s. 4.5 Fences, s. 4.6 Retaining Walls, s. 1.5 Clearance at Intersections. Retaining wall permits: Building Bylaw 2016 (No. 13658). Pool fences: Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2000 (No. 11119).
  - Source: [Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 consolidated, title page and Part 4](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2026-07/Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-Without-Schedules.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW BYLAW NO. 14815" … "4.5 Fences" … "1.5 Clearance at Intersections"
  - Source: [Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2000, No. 11119, s. 4(a)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/11000/11119.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every swimming pool shall be completely enclosed by a sturdy non-climbable barrier"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Fence heights are set by Part 4, section 4.5 of the [Zoning Bylaw 2026 (No. 14815)](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2026-06/Part-4-General-Regulations.pdf), in force since July 1, 2026. The City's fence guide says building permits are not required for fences and screening walls. Retaining walls are different.

- **Required front yard:** 1.07 m in all zoning districts, except enclosures for outdoor play areas (up to 1.8 m) and required screening.
- **Behind the required front yard:** 1.8 m in R, C and P districts; 2.4 m in E, I and A districts.
- **Gates and arbors** serving as an entrance may be up to 2.6 m high and 1.8 m wide.

## Steps

1. Find your property lines. A fence on City land, a right-of-way or an easement is prohibited.
2. Keep to the height limits above. Height is measured from average grade within 0.9 m of both sides of the fence.
3. Check the corner rules below if you are on a corner lot.
4. For a retaining wall over 1.2 m, apply for a building permit.

## Good to know

- Corner lots: at a lane-to-lane corner nothing (fence, wall, hedge, tree) may be within 3.0 m of the corner. At a lane corner (6.0 m) or street-to-street corner (9.0 m), structures and fences may not exceed 1.07 m, and plants may not block vision. The City's 2022 fence guide says 1 m instead; the bylaw is newer, so confirm with Planning.
- Barbed and razor wire are banned except in E and I districts.
- A fence on a retaining wall must look different from the wall.
- Retaining walls are capped at 1.2 m, with exceptions such as a development variance permit or like-for-like replacement. A building permit is also needed for terraced groups where any wall is over 1.2 m, walls terraced steeper than 1 to 1, or where the Building Inspector sees site or safety concerns.
- Pool enclosures must be at least 1.5 m high under the [Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw (No. 11119)](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/11000/11119.pdf).
- Open mesh and chain link fences on cemeteries, parks, schools and in E, I or P districts may be up to 3.5 m.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide (PDF, 2022)](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2021-08/Fences-and-Retaining-Walls-Informational-Guide.pdf)
- [Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026](https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/bylaws/zoning-bylaw)
- [Part 4 General Regulations (Zoning Bylaw 2026, PDF)](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2026-06/Part-4-General-Regulations.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Burnaby building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/building-permit.md)
- [Burnaby permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Burnaby zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fence-rules.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/fence-rules.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/fence-rules.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/fence-rules.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/fence-rules.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/fence-rules.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/fence-rules.md)

## Sources

- [Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations (PDF)](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2026-06/Part-4-General-Regulations.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 consolidated (PDF)](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2026-07/Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-Without-Schedules.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide (PDF), City of Burnaby](https://www.burnaby.ca/sites/default/files/acquiadam/2021-08/Fences-and-Retaining-Walls-Informational-Guide.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 2016, No. 13658 (consolidated PDF), City of Burnaby](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/Consolidated/13658CC.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2000, No. 11119 (PDF), City of Burnaby](https://bylaws.burnaby.ca/media/11000/11119.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Burnaby. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/fence-rules/_