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Campbell River fence rules: permits and height limits

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

Campbell River, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Campbell River a fence on a single or two family residential lot needs no building permit. In residential zones a fence can be 1.2 m high within 5.0 m of the front lot line and 1.8 m elsewhere. Commercial, industrial and airport zones allow 2.43 m.

Key facts

PermitNo building permit for a fence, trellis or arbour on a parcel zoned for single or two family residential use. Retaining walls are separate: a wall 1.2 m or more high, or carrying extra loads, needs a permit.Building Bylaw No. 3899, 2023 (PDF, consolidated, includes Bylaw 3990, 2025 amendments), s. 4.3(b), (c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
a fence, a trellis, an arbour, or other similar landscape structures on a parcel zoned for
less than 1.2 metres in height and is not intended to support
Height, front yard1.2 m within 5.0 m of the front lot line, in residential zones and for residential uses in rural zones.Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.17(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
the maximum height of a fence is 1.8 m, but within 5.0 m of the front lot line the maximum
height is 1.2 m.
Height, side and rear yards1.8 m in residential zones and for residential uses in rural zones. In commercial, industrial and airport zones the limit is 2.43 m.Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.17(c), (f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
In residential zones, and for residential uses in rural zones, the maximum
height of a fence is 1.8 m
In commercial, industrial and airport zones, the maximum height of a fence
may be 2.43m.
Corner lots and sightlinesFences must not interfere with sight lines at intersections. Near an intersection, no fence, tree, shrub or other structure over 0.46 m wide may stand in the triangle formed by the two lot lines and a line joining points 2.4 m from the corner, where it blocks the view between 1.0 m and 2.4 m above the road.Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.13(f); Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 3543, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3964, 2024), s. 7.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
and where they do not interfere with sight lines at
intersections.
place or permit to be placed or grow a tree, shrub, plant, fence or other structure with horizontal
dimension exceeding 0.46 metres (1.5 feet) within the triangular area formed by two
intersecting lot lines
Other rulesHeight is measured vertically from average grade to the top of the fence. No chain link fence along a front property line or facing a public right-of-way in the Central Business Area. A fence within 1.5 m of a retaining wall top must be no higher than 1.2 m and transparent or screened. Retaining elements max 1.5 m; taller walls terraced. Pool, spa or hot tub fence: at least 1.22 m high (Building Bylaw s. 17.5).Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.17 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Fence height is determined by measuring vertically from the average grade
No chain link fences are permitted along the front property line or fronting
a fence may be placed within 1.5 m of the top of either a
retaining wall or retaining element, where such a fence does not exceed 1.2
No retaining element on a residential or commercial parcel shall exceed a
Despite 4.17 c), a fence may be placed within 1.5 m of the top of either a
m in height, and is either:
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 3250, 2006, s. 4.17 (Fence, Retaining Walls and Screening)Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.17 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
FENCE, RETAINING WALLS AND SCREENING

How it works

The City of Campbell River's Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence, trellis or arbour on a parcel zoned for single or two family residential use, so no building permit is needed. It does not say whether fences on other parcels need one; ask Development Services. Retaining walls are separate: one 1.2 m or more high, or carrying extra loads, needs a permit.

Height limits are in section 4.17 of the Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006. Height is measured vertically from average grade to the top of the fence.

  • Residential zones, and residential uses in rural zones: 1.2 m within 5.0 m of the front lot line, and 1.8 m otherwise.
  • Commercial, industrial and airport zones: 2.43 m.

Good to know

  • Corner lots: fences must not interfere with sight lines at intersections. Near an intersection, the Public Nuisance Bylaw bars any fence, tree, shrub or structure over 0.46 m wide in the triangle formed by the two lot lines and a line joining points 2.4 m from the corner, where it blocks the view between 1.0 m and 2.4 m above the road.
  • No chain link fence along a front property line or facing a public right-of-way in the Central Business Area.
  • A fence within 1.5 m of the top of a retaining wall must be no higher than 1.2 m and transparent or screened. Retaining elements may be at most 1.5 m high; taller walls are terraced.
  • A pool, spa or hot tub fence must be at least 1.22 m high (Building Bylaw s. 17.5).
  • An over-height fence is a $200 ticket under the City's Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw.
  • The Zoning Bylaw has no rule on barbed wire or electric fences. Find your property lines first.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Courtenay · Cumberland · Comox · Powell River · Sayward · Gold River

Fence height limits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Building Bylaw No. 3899, 2023 (PDF, consolidated, includes Bylaw 3990, 2025 amendments) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 3543, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3964, 2024) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025) (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.