Burnaby fence rules: permits and height limits
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.
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.Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide, Fences and Retaining Walls guide, "Permit and Inspection"; Building Bylaw 2016, No. 13658 (consolidated PDF), s. 3 definition of structure; s. 11(1)(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding 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 but specifically excludes paving, fences, retaining walls other than those that is greater than 1.2 m (3.94 ft.) in height; or |
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| 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.Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations, Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4, s. 4.5(2)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingfences 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 |
| 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.Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations, Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4, s. 4.5(2)(b)-(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAnywhere 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. |
| 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.Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations, Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4, s. 1.5 and s. 4.5(1); Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide, Fences and Retaining Walls guide, "Clearance at Intersections" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll 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 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. |
| 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.Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations, Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4, s. 4.5(4)-(6), 4.6(1); Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide, Fences and Retaining Walls guide, "Swimming Pool Barriers" · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBarbed 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 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. |
| 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).Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 consolidated, title page and Part 4; Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2000, No. 11119, s. 4(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZONING BYLAW BYLAW NO. 14815 4.5 Fences 1.5 Clearance at Intersections Every swimming pool shall be completely enclosed by a sturdy non-climbable barrier |
How it works
Fence heights are set by Part 4, section 4.5 of the Zoning Bylaw 2026 (No. 14815), 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
- Find your property lines. A fence on City land, a right-of-way or an easement is prohibited.
- Keep to the height limits above. Height is measured from average grade within 0.9 m of both sides of the fence.
- Check the corner rules below if you are on a corner lot.
- 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).
- 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
The same question in other places
New Westminster · Richmond · Port Moody · Belcarra · Vancouver · Coquitlam
Sources
- Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Part 4 General Regulations (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide (PDF), City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw 2016, No. 13658 (consolidated PDF), City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw 2000, No. 11119 (PDF), City of Burnaby (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. How answers are checked.